Neuroanatomical structures manufacture: an alternative in the practical teaching of neuroanatomy

Introduction: The neuroanatomy discipline is seen by students as one of the most complex and difficult of the basic cycle in health courses. This is taught with lectures and practical classes, where in the last one, the use is made of corpse parts. However, the use of this type of material has been decreasing making it professors and monitors search for new alternatives. One of these alternatives is the manufacture and the use of neuroanatomical models that assist and facilitate the understanding of practical teaching and learning. The study aims to manufacture neuroanatomical models alternative for the practical Neuroanatomy classes. Materials and Methods: The study is an action research, exploratory, descriptive, where were made neuroanatomical models in the Human Anatomy Laboratory at the University of Pernambuco, Petrolina, with cheap materials in order to improve learning in practical teaching. The confections of these models were made with polystyrene, biscuit dough, string, colored acrylic paint, ink colored oil, rubberized, cardboard and plaster bandages. Results: Were made ten neuroanatomical parts that corresponding to the spinal cord, reticular formation and the dermatomes of the limbs. Conclusion: It was observed that the manufacturing of these models is necessary for conducting practical classes being possible elaborate them with quality at low cost, being an alternative in front of real difficulties in obtaining corpse parts and being a strong tool in the teaching and learning of the Neuroanatomy discipline. But regardless of the alternatives utilized, the confection of models will never replace the use of corpse parts.