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Assessment of the Relationship Between Dissection Experience and Practical Anatomy Performance

Abstract

The study examines the relationship between dissection experience and practical anatomy performance among undergraduate students, with emphasis on how exposure to cadaveric dissection may influence students’ ability to recognize, identify, and understand anatomical structures during practical anatomy activities. Dissection provides direct exposure to human anatomical structures and allows students to appreciate their three-dimensional arrangement, spatial relationships, and anatomical variations. Understanding the relationship between students’ dissection experience and practical performance is therefore important for evaluating the contribution of cadaver-based learning to anatomy education. The study will assess the level of dissection experience among the students and determine their practical anatomy performance based on their ability to identify anatomical structures, recognize anatomical landmarks, and describe the relationships between structures. The study will also examine variations in practical performance across students with different levels of dissection exposure and identify anatomical areas or practical tasks in which students may experience greater difficulty. A cross-sectional descriptive research design will be adopted for the study. An appropriate sample of undergraduate anatomy students with relevant practical anatomy and dissection experience will be selected using an appropriate sampling technique. Data on dissection experience will be obtained through a structured questionnaire, while practical anatomy performance will be assessed using standardized practical identification tasks involving cadaveric specimens, prosections, anatomical models, or other appropriate practical materials. The data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, while an appropriate correlation or inferential test will be used to determine the relationship between dissection experience and practical anatomy performance. The study is expected to reveal variations in the extent of dissection experience and practical anatomy performance among the students. Students with greater exposure to dissection may demonstrate stronger abilities in identifying anatomical structures, recognizing landmarks, and understanding three-dimensional spatial relationships, although differences may also occur across specific anatomical regions and practical tasks. Structures that are small, deep, closely related, or difficult to distinguish may remain challenging despite previous dissection exposure. The findings will be useful to anatomists, anatomy educators, dissection instructors, medical educators, and curriculum developers by providing information on the contribution of dissection experience to practical anatomy learning. The findings may also help identify areas where students require additional practical exposure, guided dissection, repeated identification exercises, or supplementary anatomical resources. Such information may support the improvement of practical anatomy teaching and assessment strategies in undergraduate health sciences education. The study will conclude by determining the relationship between dissection experience and practical anatomy performance among the study population. It is recommended that students should receive adequate and structured dissection exposure, supported by guided practical sessions and opportunities for repeated identification of anatomical structures. Further studies involving larger and more diverse student populations may also be conducted to provide broader evidence on the role of dissection experience in practical anatomy education.

Keywords: Dissection experience, practical anatomy performance, cadaveric dissection, anatomy education, undergraduate students, practical anatomy, anatomical identification, anatomical specimens, prosection, anatomical landmarks, three-dimensional anatomy, spatial relationships, anatomy learning, dissection skills, practical assessment.