Anatomical theatre

Detail of Gustavianum in Uppsala, showing the cupola housing the anatomical theatre from 1663
Anatomical theatre in the Archiginnasio of Bologna, constructed in 1637

An anatomical theatre (Latin: Theatrum Anatomicum) was a specialised building or room, resembling a theatre, used in teaching anatomy at early modern universities. They were typically constructed with a tiered structure surrounding a central table, allowing a larger audience to see the dissection of cadavers more closely than would have been possible in a non-specialized setting.