Teaching Gross Anatomy: Now and Then

The teaching of macroscopic anatomy has changed a lot from ancient times until now, since the first human being observed the anatomical parts of other human beings or animals either during a healing action, a fight or a hunting. Later on the first documented systematic anatomical dissections on the human body were carried out around the third century B.C. in Alexandria, but soon was banned for about 16 centuries. Anatomical dissections were restored during late middle age and subsequently improved during the renaissance and following centuries. In the 21st century as complement to improve the medical education new technologies to the teaching of human anatomy are being incorporated. Nevertheless, anatomical dissection will continue to be essential in medical education because cadavers impart a real-time three-dimensional perspective about human body complexities and improve medical practical skills.