AlphaMED Resources · https://alphamedicine.uk/Resources/glossary/dissection
Dissection vs prosection
Dissection is when students cut up a donated body themselves. Prosection is when students study parts that an expert has already dissected.
Summary
- At BSMS, students actively dissect specific anatomical regions in groups of about ten per table.
- Prosections are human specimens that have been previously dissected by expert anatomists, and they let students learn anatomy efficiently.
- The bodies come from people who chose to donate them. The Human Tissue Act 2004 lists anatomical examination as a purpose that needs consent.
- Under section 3 of the Act, a deceased adult's consent for this use must be in writing, signed in front of at least one witness.
- BSMS uses a station based approach for prosection sessions, and its anatomy lab holds licences from the Human Tissue Authority.
Sources
- bsms.ac.ukbsms.ac.uk/…/01-20-anatomy-dissection-and-prosection-sessions-at-bsms.asp
- Hull York Medical Schoolhyms.ac.uk/…/anatomy
- legislation.gov.uklegislation.gov.uk/…/contents
- legislation.gov.uklegislation.gov.uk/…/3
Not sure where to apply?
School selection is a consultation with a mentor on which medical schools fit your grades and your UCAT score.
alphamedicine.uk/Services · alphamedicine.uk/Contact
More NHS hot topics, medical ethics case studies and medical school interview questions are in AlphaMED Resources, which we add to and update through the application cycle.