A reflection on the role of anatomists in modern medical education: confronting meaning and mortality in the gross anatomy laboratory

Modes of anatomical instruction (especially the need to dissect cadavers) have been contested for generations. The present narrative provides an opportunity to re-approach this age-old debate and contemplate the state of anatomical sciences education through a narrative reflection of an encounter with a donor in the cadaveric anatomy laboratory.

Morphometric and gross anatomy studies of gonads in day-old Arabic chick (Gallus turcicus) lead to gonadal asymmetry

The differentiation of avian gonads occurred since the embryonic stage, resulted in asymmetric morphology. This study aimed to analyse the morphometric and gross anatomy of gonads in Day old Arabic chick. This study utilized 116 Day old Arabic chick. After necropsy, they were divided into 61 male and 55 female. The variables studies were length, width, volume, location, colour, and shape of the gonads. Data analysis used descriptive analysis and independent T test. The results showed a significant difference (P<0.01) between the right and left ovary lengths 1.67±0.08 mm and 3.69±0.05, respectively. A significant difference (P<0.01) between the width ovaries 0.64±0.03 mm (right ovary) and 1.18±0.03 mm (left ovary), respectively. It was found a significant difference (P<0.05) between the length of right and left testis 2.47±0.08 mm and 3.29±0.07mm, and between volume of testis 1.46±0.12 mm3 (right testis) and 2.03±0.13 mm3 (left testis). However, the right and left testes width was not significant (P>0.01). The testes colour was creamy white, sometimes pink, and grey to black, the colour of ovaries was creamy yellow and pink. Morphometric and gonadal morphology of Day old Arabic chick showed gonadal asymmetry, and the left side is larger than the right side.

From Tutoring Gross Anatomy to Pancreatic Surgery Innovation

The training for pancreatic surgery still is not conducted according to standardized protocols, and academic programs differ between countries and hospitals. Moreover, due to recent technological innovations such as minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and the broader indications for complex pancreatic procedures due to the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, training is continuously redefining itself. The historical paradigm of “see one, do one, teach one” has been challenged and might have become obsolete. Finally, the rising number of surgical residents along with the limited time required practicing during residency might represent a major limitation to becoming an independent surgeon. Gross anatomy is a solid practice for the active learning of human anatomy during medical school. With regards to the pancreas, it offers a unique opportunity to both actively study the pancreatic gland anatomy during dissection and simulate actual surgical procedures. A critical review of the literature was conducted, aiming to assess the role of gross anatomy in surgical training and possible future perspectives.

Tools and Techniques in Preparation of Coloured Bones and Skeletons for Effective Teaching, Learning and Museums

Background: Teaching veterinary osteology and arthrology has been performed with free bones collected from various animals after processing and preserving them for long duration. The profession of teaching Anatomy to undergraduate and postgraduate students in veterinary colleges not only requires the knowledge on Veterinary Gross Anatomy but also the methods of preparation of specimen for laboratory use. This article explains the methods and steps in preparation of coloured skulls, bones of forelimb, hindlimb, rib cage, digits and whole mounted skeletons, to be used in the anatomy laboratory to increase the efficiency of both teaching and learning. Methods: A carcass of adult horse donated by a farmer was utilized for making complete coloured skeleton. The bones were collected from the carcass by natural maceration technique followed by cleaning with mild chemicals. The metallic paints and commonly available tools were used for colouring and mounting of horse skeleton. The parts of bones viz. process, fossa, articular area, foramen, the origin and insertion of various muscles were prepared with colours and labels on the surfaces of bones for teaching and museum purpose. The sequential step by step procedure for skeleton preparation in quickest possible time was standardized and explained using various tools. Result: The natural maceration in open water tank was found to be most effective way of maceration of carcasses for collection of bones with their normal colour. The bones were processed mainly with washing soap powder and calcium carbonate followed by drying in natural sunlight which increased the brightness of the bone without any damage to the structure. The coloured skulls, bones of forelimb, hindlimb, rib cage, digits and whole mounted skeletons were prepared with available tools and chemical as this work consumes less time and cost and increases the students’ learning efficiency, which will also be an asset and center of attraction for any Institution.

William K. Ovalle PhD, Patrick C. Nahirney PhD Netter's Essential Histology: With Correlated Histopathology (Netter Basic Science) 3rd Edition

With strong correlations between gross anatomy and the microanatomy of structures, Netter’s Essential Histology, 3rd Edition, is the perfect text for today’s evolving medical education. Concise and easy to use, it integrates gross anatomy and embryology with classic histology slides and state-of-the-art scanning electron microscopy, offering a clear, visual understanding of this complex subject. Additional histopathology images, more clinical boxes, and new histopathology content ensure that this textbook-atlas clearly presents the most indispensable histologic concepts and their clinical relevance.Helps you recognize both normal and diseased structures at the microscopic level with the aid of succinct explanatory text as well as numerous clinical boxes. Features more histopathology content and additional clinical boxes to increase your knowledge of pathophysiology and clinical relevance. Includes high-quality light and electron micrographs, including enhanced and colorized electron micrographs that show ultra-structures in 3D, side by side with classic Netter illustrations that link your knowledge of anatomy and cell biology to what is seen in the micrographs. Provides online access to author-narrated video overviews of each chapter, plus Zoomify images and Virtual Slides that include histopathology and can be viewed at different magnifications.

The β-Secretase Substrate Seizure 6–Like Protein (SEZ6L) Controls Motor Functions in Mice

The membrane protein seizure 6–like (SEZ6L) is a neuronal substrate of the Alzheimer’s disease protease BACE1, and little is known about its physiological function in the nervous system. Here, we show that SEZ6L constitutive knockout mice display motor phenotypes in adulthood, including changes in gait and decreased motor coordination. Additionally, SEZ6L knockout mice displayed increased anxiety-like behaviour, although spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze were normal. Analysis of the gross anatomy and proteome of the adult SEZ6L knockout cerebellum did not reveal any major differences compared to wild type, indicating that lack of SEZ6L in other regions of the nervous system may contribute to the phenotypes observed. In summary, our study establishes physiological functions for SEZ6L in regulating motor coordination and curbing anxiety-related behaviour, indicating that aberrant SEZ6L function in the human nervous system may contribute to movement disorders and neuropsychiatric diseases.

Identifying knowledge important to teach about the nervous system in the context of secondary biology and science education–A Delphi study

Teaching about the nervous system has become a challenging task in secondary biology and science education because of the fast development in the field of neuroscience. A major challenge is to determine what content to teach. Curricula goals are often too general to guide instruction, and information about the nervous system has become overwhelming and diverse with ubiquitous relevance in society. In addition, several misconceptions and myths are circulating in educational communities causing world-wide confusion as to what content is correct. To help teachers, textbook authors, and curricula developers in this challenging landscape of knowledge, the aim of the present study is to identify the expert view on what knowledge is important for understanding the nervous system in the context of secondary biology and science education. To accomplish this, we have conducted a thematic content analysis of textbooks followed by a Delphi study of 15 experts in diverse but relevant fields. The results demonstrate six curriculum themes including gross anatomy and function, cell types and functional units, the nerve signal, connections between neurons, when nerve signals travel through networks of neurons, and plasticity in the nervous system, as well as 26 content principles organized in a coherent curriculum progression from general content to more specific content. Whereas some of the principles clarify and elaborate on traditional school biology knowledge, others add new knowledge to the curriculum. Importantly, the new framework for teaching about the nervous system presented here, meets the needs of society, as expressed by recent international policy frameworks of OECD and WHO, and it addresses common misconceptions about the brain. The study suggests an update of the biology and science curriculum.