Removal of the brain for teaching and examination

The brain was removed from cadavers using a modified technique involving additionally the removal of most of the squamous occipital bone and laminae of the upper cervical vertebrae. The resulting specimens were superior to the usual ones in that the medulla oblongata, the upper spinal cord, and all the cranial nerves and cerebral arteries were intact. Fears of slow-virus contamination and legislative changes are precluding the use of brains obtained in the necropsy room for neuroanatomy teaching, so it is paramount that complete brains are removed from dissecting room cadavers. The method described herein takes a little longer than the traditional method, but is within the capability of an anatomy technician and yields better specimens for use in teaching and examinations.