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Advances in Physiology Education Sep 2023In the field of anatomy education, the debate over the superiority of learning with or without human donors is decades long and ongoing. Arguments for or against the use... (Review)
Review
In the field of anatomy education, the debate over the superiority of learning with or without human donors is decades long and ongoing. Arguments for or against the use of human donors in anatomy education vary, depending on the healthcare discipline. Physical therapy programs have been particularly resistant to the trend away from the use of human donors. In this personal view, I present my history of anatomy education and how my perspectives on teaching and learning anatomy have changed dramatically throughout my teaching experiences. The purpose of this article is to support instructors who are creating anatomy courses for all healthcare trainees without donors, inspire those teaching with donors to incorporate other methods of instruction and evaluation, challenge educators to examine their own biases surrounding anatomy education, and provide recommendations for developing an anatomy course without human donors. Included in this article is the perspective of a practicing physical therapist who learned through human dissection and has assisted me in the development and management of the human anatomy course in our physical therapy curriculum. This article provides an overview of how to design an anatomy course without anatomical donors for doctor of physical therapy students and includes recommendations for instructors who need to reduce or eliminate anatomical donors from their anatomy curriculum.
Topics: Humans; Anatomists; Anatomy; Cadaver; Curriculum; Dissection; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Educational Status; Learning; Students, Medical; Teaching
PubMed: 37141435
DOI: 10.1152/advan.00004.2023 -
Molecular Human Reproduction Nov 2020Most reproductive biologists who study female gametes will agree with the 16th century anatomist William Harvey's doctrine: 'Ex Ovo Omnia'. This phrase, which literally...
Most reproductive biologists who study female gametes will agree with the 16th century anatomist William Harvey's doctrine: 'Ex Ovo Omnia'. This phrase, which literally translates to 'everything from the egg', recognizes the centrality of the egg in animal development. Eggs are most impressive cells, capable of supporting development of an entirely new organism following fertilization or parthenogenetic activation. Not so uniformly embraced in the field of reproductive biology is the nomenclature used to refer to the female germ cell. What is an oocyte? What is an egg? Are these terms the same, different, interchangeable? Here we provide functional definitions of the oocyte and egg, and how they can be used in the context of mammalian gamete biology and beyond.
Topics: Animals; Female; Germ Cells; Humans; Mammals; Oocytes; Oogenesis; Ovum; Terminology as Topic
PubMed: 33022047
DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa066 -
Anatomical Record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007) Apr 2022Since its establishment as one of the major authorities on the human body, Anatomy has played a crucial role in social and political spheres. In this article, I review...
Since its establishment as one of the major authorities on the human body, Anatomy has played a crucial role in social and political spheres. In this article, I review how the history of Anatomy has intersected with queer history and how the effects of these interactions have affected queer lives today. In these historical cases, I aim to demonstrate how Anatomy has affected the social organization of human culture and society and also how society has affected anatomical knowledge in return. As this reciprocal connection between Anatomy and societal organization is elucidated, I argue that anatomists, clinicians, and educators have an ethical duty to address the connections of this history, both in our research and our classrooms. This historical tour begins in the ancient world, which established a connection between sexuality and physiology and reproduction. This is followed by an exploration of the Renaissance and Enlightenment, which highlight the connections between anatomical knowledge, the law, and social organization. The progressive and modern eras are explored next via modern research into the anatomical and biological origins of same-sex attraction and the use of modern technology in these investigations. Finally, the article ends with a call for reform along with suggestions for future steps.
Topics: Anatomists; Anatomy; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; Humans; Sexual and Gender Minorities
PubMed: 34997831
DOI: 10.1002/ar.24859 -
Anatomical Sciences Education Jul 2020Social Media has changed the way that individuals interact with each other - it has brought considerable benefits, yet also some challenges. Social media in anatomy has...
Social Media has changed the way that individuals interact with each other - it has brought considerable benefits, yet also some challenges. Social media in anatomy has enabled anatomists all over the world to engage, interact and form new collaborations that otherwise would not have been possible. In a relatively small discipline where individuals may be working as the only anatomist in an institution, having such a virtual community can be important. Social media is also being used as a means for anatomists to communicate with the current generation of students as well as members of the public. Posting appropriate content is one of the challenges raised by social media use in anatomy. Human cadaveric material is frequently shared on social media and there is divided opinion among anatomists on whether or not such content is appropriate. This article explores the uses and challenges of social media use in the field of anatomy and outlines guidelines on how social media can be used by anatomists globally, while maintaining professional and ethical standards. Creating global guidelines has shown to be difficult due to the differences in international law for the use of human tissue and also the irregularities in acquiring informed consent for capturing and sharing cadaveric images. These nuances may explain why cadaveric images are frequently shared on social media. This article proposes that as standard practice, anatomists obtain informed consent from donors before sharing images of cadaveric material on social media and ensure posts include a statement stating the same.
Topics: Anatomists; Anatomy; Cadaver; Ethics, Professional; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Informed Consent; Medical Illustration; Social Media; Societies
PubMed: 32043732
DOI: 10.1002/ase.1948 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Oct 2023The first clinical presentation of a hernia developing along the Spigelian line had been reported by Klinkosch. The Belgian anatomist Adriaan van der Spieghel (Adrianus...
INTRODUCTION & IMPORTANCE
The first clinical presentation of a hernia developing along the Spigelian line had been reported by Klinkosch. The Belgian anatomist Adriaan van der Spieghel (Adrianus Spigelius) was the first to describe the semilunar line now known as the linea Spigeli in 1645. Spigelian hernias are rare and account for 1 % to 2 % of all abdominal wall hernias. Most of these hernia occurs in the lower abdomen where posterior sheath is deficient. The hernia ring is well defined defect in the transverse aponeurosis.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 60 year old female, presented with a palpable lump at the right lower quadrant of the abdomen since 7 month before her presentation.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
For the first time the swelling is small and painless then gradually increase in size and associated with dull aching pain. The swelling was reducible with a defect of size 4 × 4 cm palpable in right iliac fossa. There was a positive cough impulse. The swelling was non tender. Other hernial orifices were normal. No inguinal lymphadenopathy noted. Abdominal ultrasonography done revealed a defect in abdominal wall in right iliac fossa with reducible bowel content. Depending on basis of clinical and investigations, a diagnosis of Spigelian hernia was made. After preparation for surgery, exploration done. The defect measuring 4 cm in length was identified and anatomical repair was done with nylon- 0, by suturing medial border of internal oblique and transverse abdominus muscle to the lateral border of rectum abdominal wall followed by hernioplasty by mesh.
CONCLUSION
Spigelian hernias are rare multifactorial disorder leading to defect in the transversus abdominis muscle in anterior abdominal wall. Spigelian hernias carry a significant risk of incarceration and strangulation of sac content. The management of spigelian hernias is almost always surgical which can be done in a traditional open fashion or laparoscopically.
PubMed: 37757738
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108785 -
Developmental Dynamics : An Official... Aug 2022The classical anatomist Drew Noden spearheaded craniofacial research, laying the foundation for our modern molecular understanding of development, evolution, and... (Review)
Review
The classical anatomist Drew Noden spearheaded craniofacial research, laying the foundation for our modern molecular understanding of development, evolution, and disorders of the craniofacial skeleton. His work revealed the origin of cephalic musculature and the role of cranial neural crest (CNC) in early formation and patterning of the head musculoskeletal structures. Much of modern cranial tendon research advances a foundation of knowledge that Noden built using classical quail-chick transplantation experiments. This elegant avian chimeric system involves grafting of donor quail cells into host chick embryos to identify the cell types they can form and their interactions with the surrounding tissues. In this review, we will give a brief background of vertebrate head formation and the impact of CNC on the patterning, development, and evolution of the head musculoskeletal attachments. Using the zebrafish as a model system, we will discuss examples of modifications of craniofacial structures in evolution with a special focus on the role of tendon and ligaments. Lastly, we will discuss pathologies in craniofacial tendons and the importance of understanding the molecular and cellular dynamics during craniofacial tendon development in human disease.
Topics: Animals; Chick Embryo; Humans; Neural Crest; Quail; Skull; Tendons; Zebrafish
PubMed: 35338756
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.471 -
Morphologie : Bulletin de L'Association... Sep 2021The culture of cadaver dissection remains the most commonly used method of practical teaching and learning of human anatomy. Anatomist and medical professionals... (Review)
Review
The culture of cadaver dissection remains the most commonly used method of practical teaching and learning of human anatomy. Anatomist and medical professionals considered cadaver dissection as the gold standard for teaching and learning anatomy in detail. The increase seen in the establishment of new medical training institutions globally has consequently led to a proportionate increase in the sourcing for cadavers. Moreover, the surge in mortality rates following the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with no cure or approved vaccine has been a source of concern for academia, especially on the safety in the usage of cadavers for dissection. Notwithstanding, several countries continue to depend on unclaimed bodies as the primary source for cadavers, regardless of the cause of death. Besides, body donation is also usually reported to be strained during disease outbreaks thereby putting countries that depend solely on it in a dilemma. This study highlighted the recommended standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be imbibed in gross anatomy dissection halls during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.
Topics: Anatomy; COVID-19; Cadaver; Curriculum; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Humans; Laboratories; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Students, Medical; Teaching
PubMed: 33268295
DOI: 10.1016/j.morpho.2020.10.004 -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery May 2024The exact anatomical entity behind the term superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) remains poorly understood. The different interpretations of the term SMAS by... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The exact anatomical entity behind the term superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) remains poorly understood. The different interpretations of the term SMAS by anatomists, surgeons, and histologists have caused confusion. This article aims to provide clarity regarding this term and the relevant anatomy.
METHODS
A literature review was conducted to uncover the variety of descriptions of the term SMAS. A feasibility study, followed by a conclusive series of standardized layered dissections complemented by histologic analysis and sheet plastination, was performed on 50 cadaver heads (16 embalmed and 34 fresh; mean age, 75 years).
RESULTS
Most literature considers the SMAS as layer 3, that is, a musculoaponeurotic layer that separates the subcutaneous fat of the superficial fascia from the deep fat of the deep fascia. The authors' dissections, histologic analysis, and sheet plastination demonstrated that layer 3 is present only where there are flat mimetic muscles and platysma-auricular fascia over the posterior part of the parotid gland as the evolutionary remnant of the platysma, but not between the flat mimetic muscles. Here, the subcutaneous fat is in direct contact with the deep fat without the interposition of a musculoaponeurotic layer 3.
CONCLUSIONS
Because of the absence of a distinct and complete layer 3 connecting the flat mimetic muscles, the authors conclude that the SMAS as originally described does not exist as a specific anatomical entity. In retrospect, the surgically created compound layered flap composed of a variable thickness of subcutaneous fat, mimetic muscles (eg, platysma, orbicularis oculi), and a thin layer of deep fascia is what is known as the "SMAS."
Topics: Humans; Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System; Cadaver; Aged; Female; Male; Subcutaneous Fat; Dissection; Feasibility Studies; Aged, 80 and over; Fascia
PubMed: 37039509
DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010557