The practice of anatomy allows the student to learn how to face up to and adapt his or her emotional reactions and attitudes; this gives human cadaver dissection great importance as an educational strategy and as a professional training tool in technical and emotional skills training.

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We present the results of a study conducted on participants of the 21st Congress of the Spanish Society of Anatomy, in which anatomists were asked their opinions about a range of issues related to anatomical dissection: its relative roles as the exclusive source of anatomy teaching, as a source for medical research, or to assist the future professional to acquire emotional control; the attitudes and behaviors they expect the student to have in the dissecting room; whether the student-cadaver relationship can convey knowledge and attitudes affecting the future doctor-patient relationship; and the anatomists' attitudes toward donation. Anatomists considered dissection to be mainly an instrument for professional training and to help develop professional skills. They gave little importance to the role it could play in helping students to control their emotions. However, this aspect was considered to be more important by anatomists who also valued a close doctor-patient relationship. On the other hand, a majority of anatomists felt that the student's attitude and behavior during dissection could be to some extent reflected in future relationships with patients. However, they did not feel that dissection-related attitudes would distinguish between future good or bad doctors.