COVID-19 and anatomy: Stimulus and initial response

Cecilia Brassett; Thomas Cosker; D Ceri Davies; Peter Dockery; Thomas H Gillingwater; T Clive Lee; Stefan Milz; Simon H Parson; Fabio Quondamatteo; Tracey Wilkinson

doi:10.1111/joa.13274

COVID-19 and anatomy: Stimulus and initial response

J Anat. 2020 Sep;237(3):393-403. doi: 10.1111/joa.13274. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
² Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
³ Human Anatomy Unit, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.
⁴ Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
⁵ Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
⁶ Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin 2, Ireland.
⁷ Anatomische Anstalt, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
⁸ Department of Anatomy, Suttie Centre, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
⁹ Anatomy Facility, University of Glasgow School of Life Sciences, Glasgow, UK.
¹⁰ Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19, resulting from widespread transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, represents one of the foremost current challenges to societies across the globe, with few areas of life remaining untouched. Here, we detail the immediate impact that COVID-19 has had on the teaching and practice of anatomy, providing specific examples of the varied responses from several UK, Irish and German universities and medical schools. Alongside significant issues for, and suspension of, body donation programmes, the widespread closure of university campuses has led to challenges in delivering anatomy education via online methods, a particular problem for a practical, experience-based subject such as anatomy. We discuss the short-term consequences of COVID-19 for body donation programmes and anatomical education, and highlight issues and challenges that will need to be addressed in the medium to long term in order to restore anatomy education and practice throughout the world.

Keywords: COVID-19; anatomy; body donation; coronavirus; education.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anatomy / education*
COVID-19*
Education, Medical
Humans
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Universities