The role of cadaveric dissections in current medical education: a critical review

Abstract

Human cadaveric dissection has been utilised in medical education for centuries. Historical reports suggest that the ancient Greek physicians introduced human cadaveric dissection in medical schools in the 3rd century BC. With the advent of modern technology, the relevance of human cadaveric dissection has been critically evaluated in relation to modern medical curriculum. Some medical schools and universities have replaced cadaveric dissection with virtual or digital dissection. From the available evidence, it appears that virtual cadaveric dissection can be a useful adjunct in overcoming the limitations of traditional cadaveric dissection. This is evident in its ability to simulate real life situation during dissection of structures such as the neural and blood vessels.