Reviving the anatomic past: Breathing new life into historic anatomical teaching tools

• Published in: Journal of anatomy Vol. 242; no. 4; pp. 701 - 704
• Main Authors: Cullinane, Dearbhla P., Franklin, Callum, Barry, Denis S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2023; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Anatomy; anatomy education; blended learning; Brief Communication; Cadavers; Curriculum; Dissection; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; gross anatomy; Humans; Learning; medical museums; pedagogy; blended learning; anatomy education; pedagogy; gross anatomy; medical museums
• ISSN: 0021-8782; 1469-7580
• DOI: 10.1111/joa.13802

The last two decades have seen a shift in the way anatomy education is delivered. With the introduction of blended learning, cadaveric dissection is no longer the be all and end all and, in many cases, the continuing role of anatomical teaching artefacts has declined after decades of prominence. While some institutions have abandoned their archaic anatomical collections and medical museums completely, others have invested in their technological enhancement. We describe the integration of historical teaching artefacts into contemporary anatomy education through the development of an interactive online e‐platform and shed light on the enduring pedagogic value of past anatomical teaching specimen. The last two decades have seen a shift in the way anatomy education is delivered. With the introduction of blended learning, cadaveric dissection is no longer the be all and end all and, in many cases, the continuing role of anatomical teaching artifacts has declined after decades of prominence. While some institutions have abandoned their archaic anatomical collections and medical museums completely, others have invested in their technological enhancement. We describe the integration of historical teaching artefacts into contemporary anatomy education through the development of an interactive online e‐platform and shed light on the enduring pedagogic value of past anatomical teaching specimen.