Contemporary anatomy teaching - experiences from the Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad

Abstract

The expansion of medical knowledge supported by rapid progress of information technologies led to important changes of medical education concept, as well as volume and content of medical curriculum. Anatomy teaching has gone through many restrictive measures. First, the number of lessons has been reduced and subsequently focus from systematic and regional anatomy has been moved to clinical anatomy with the aim of practical integration of knowledge in clinical conditions. Today the justification of cadaver dissection that is considered to be the backbone of traditional anatomy teaching is being questioned. Numerous problems are associated with the cadavers use in teaching, including their accessibility, preservation and ethical justification. Cadaver dissection has alternatives in real anatomical models, as well as in virtual multimedia, ranging from simple linear to sophisticated, interactive, augmentative reality. Although, the use of modern technologies is estimated by some lecturers as the act of dehumanization of medicine and criticized as insufficiently student oriented, it is considered justified only as a supplement to traditional dissection method and demonstration on cadaver material. Anatomists are put in front of very delicate task to integrate the positive aspects of traditional and modern teaching, with the aim to motivate students and provide conditions for better knowledge retention. This paper deals with problems and challenges facing contem?porary anatomy teaching from the perspective of the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad.