Progressive Development of Human Anatomy for the Medical Anatomist

Abstract

Anatomy is the oldest and the most important of all medical sciences. For hundreds of years, it has served as the foundation of medical education. However, in recent years, Anatomy in undergraduate education has seen significant changes.  The science of Anatomy has valiantly climbed the steps of time having been taught and practised from the pre-Vedic period to the present era of online education on computers. Methods of instruction, assessment, cadaver procurement, embalming, and so on have all evolved. So who says anatomy is always the same and never changes?   We ran a survey among the students to gather their opinions on the changes in anatomy that had occurred over the years, as well as their thoughts on the burden of learning in such a short time span. We concluded that modifications in Anatomy should be clinically relevant in order for specialists to practice safely in the future and to offer a solid foundation for future clinical improvements. This review focuses on the evolution of anatomy studies in India over the centuries.