Instruction in surgical anatomy for gynecology residents using prosected human cadavers

Prosected human cadavers were used by a team of anatomists and gynecologic surgeons to teach surgical anatomy to gynecology residents. The course was offered at the start of each 8-week gynecologic surgery rotation. Hemisections and other similar prosections were used to demonstrate anatomic relationships and surgical procedures from vantage points unobtainable at the operating table. The initial response from the faculty and residents was encouraging. The residents believed the program to be beneficial and were satisfied with it. Both the anatomy faculty and the gynecology faculty found new insights into teaching issues during the interdisciplinary process of course preparation and teaching.