Anatomy Dissection Laboratory Research Articles

Medical students' exposure to formaldehyde in a gross anatomy dissection laboratory.

The authors studied 150 first-year medical students exposed to formaldehyde during the dissection of cadavers in a gross anatomy laboratory. As a reference group, they used 189 third- and fourth-year medical students matched for sex, ethnic group, and age. Environmental and personal samples were collected to determine the exposure to formaldehyde among the first-year students. The mean concentration of formaldehyde in parts per million (ppm) in the area was 0.50 ppm (range = 0.40-0.60 ppm) and the personal sample was 0.74 ppm (range = 0.41-1.20 ppm). No significant differences were noted in the pre- and post-exposure mean FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) and FVC (forced vital capacity) among the 22 randomly selected exposed male and female subjects. Significant differences, however, were observed in the exposed group for symptoms of decreased ability to smell, eye irritation, throat irritation, and dry mouth in comparison with the reference group. These symptoms were also significantly related to the time and place of occurrence. Medical schools should take more concrete measures to reduce students' exposure to formaldehyde. Meanwhile, although it is not now the practice in most medical schools, students should have ready access to goggles and respirators when working in dissection laboratories.

Post‐traumatic stress among medical students in the anatomy dissection laboratory

AbstractThe emotional and psychological responses of medical students to the human anatomy laboratory at Stanford University School of Medicine were studied over four successive years. Students' reactions to dissection were assessed by interview, questionnaire, recording of laboratory conversations, and analysis of dreams. Data were collected from approximately 175 of the 350 students enrolled in Human Anatomy over this period. Interviews were also conducted with faculty and staff. Approximately 5% of the students reported marked disturbances including nightmares, intrusive visual images, insomnia, depression, and learing impairments. A large fraction of the remaining students reported similar but less severe responses to dissection in the Anatomy laboratory. These reactions strongly resemble the psychological entity known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We suggest that the Anatomy laboratory represents a significant emotional challenge to many medical students, in that it may be the student's first intimate experience with illness and death. Further, the Anatomy laboratory may be compared to subsequent clinical encounters because it asks that a student concentrate on data collection and simultaneously deal with disturbing thoughts and feelings. Those involved in Anatomy instruction are in a unique position to help impart desirable professional values to young physicians as they adjust to these stresses.