Prosection

A prosection is the dissection of a cadaver (human or animal) or part of a cadaver by an experienced anatomist in order to demonstrate for students anatomic structure.[1] In a dissection, students learn by doing; in a prosection, students learn by either observing a dissection being performed by an experienced anatomist or examining a specimen that has already been dissected by an experienced anatomist (etymology: Latin pro- "before" + sectio "a cutting").[2]

A prosection may also refer to the dissected cadaver or cadaver part which is then reassembled and provided to students for review.[3]

  1. ^ "Prosection." In Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 30th ed. Douglas Anderson, ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders, 2007. ISBN 0-7216-0146-4
  2. ^ "Prosector." In Stedman's Medical Dictionary. 25th ed. William R. Hensyl, ed. Baltimore, MD.:Williams & Wilkins, 1990. ISBN 0-683-07916-6
  3. ^ Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley, and A.M.R. Agur (2006). Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-3639-0