[Anatomy for the future general physician: a guiding thread in undergraduate education]

In all countries of the world the amount of time allotted to teaching anatomy has been drastically reduced during the 'sixties. This restriction has intensified the discussion about the contents to be taught. Between the contradictory opinions concerning the problem, this study is intended to indicate a middle way, insofar as it advocates a basic anatomical knowledge orientated towards general medical practice. More detailed anatomy would then be studied during the postgraduate curriculum, according to the specific needs of the clinical specialty chosen. This paper presents the results concerning the respiratory system.