A questionnaire on the emotional and psychological reactions of Arab medical students to the dissecting room (DR) was distributed to 272 students in four successive pre‐clinical and clinical years in the same academic year (1993‐1994) at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Medical College; 205 students responded. Varying degrees of fear on first entering the DR was reported by 46%. The most frequent reactions were recurring visual images of cadavers (total 38%) and temporary loss of appetite (total 22.5%). Students' reactions were most commonly elicited by the smell of the DR (total 91%) and by fear of infection (total 62%). The most frequent method of coping with such fears was by rationalization (total 65%). Significant gender differences (P < 0.05) were found concerning all aspects of the DR experience. Female students showed higher levels of fear, reported stronger physical and behavioral reactions, were more disturbed by certain stimuli in the DR, and used certain coping methods more frequently than their male peers. The need for appropriate psychological preparation of students before studying human cadaveric anatomy is discussed. Clin. Anat. 10:272‐278, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.