title: Autopsy as a tool for learning gross anatomy during 1(st) year MBBS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Embalmed cadavers are the primary tool for teaching anatomy. However, difficulties are encountered due to changed color/texture of organs, hardening of tissues, and smell of formaldehyde. To overcome these difficulties, dissections on a fresh human body were shown to the 1(st) year MBBS students, and their perception was noted.
  
  
  METHODS
  After taking universal precautionary measures, postmortem dissections were shown to students on voluntary donated bodies in the dissection hall, in addition to the traditional teaching on embalmed cadavers. Feedback was taken from students and faculty regarding the utility of these sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Better appreciation of texture, orientation, location, and relations of organs in fresh body, integration of teaching, awareness of the process and laws related to body donations were the outcomes of the study. However, the smell and sight of blood was felt to be nauseating by some students, and some students were worried about the spread of infectious diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visualizing single fresh body dissection during 1(st) year professional MBBS is recommended either on medicolegal autopsy or on voluntarily-donated bodies.
authors: Department of Forensic Medicine, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab, India.
authors: Parmod Kumar
authors: PK
authors: Goyal
authors: Department of Anatomy, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab, India.
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Gupta
authors: Department of Anatomy, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab, India.
authors: Jaswinder
authors: J
authors: Kaur
keywords: Anatomy learning; autopsy; embalmed cadavers; fresh body dissection