Education Committee Tip of the Month

'Using Student Roles in the Dissection Room'

Written by Dr Claire Fitton (University of Glasgow)

Learning anatomy through dissection is intrinsically interactive. However, with increasing student numbers and more students per cadaver, keeping the whole group engaged throughout the session can be a challenge, particularly when they are not actively dissecting. At the University of Glasgow, a ‘student roles’ dissection approach was trialled with the Medicine Cohorts in Years 1 and 2. Each student took on one of the following teams-based roles per session:

The typical set-up was 2 dissectors, 1 chair, 1 scribe and all others students as researchers. If there were fewer students, the chair and scribe roles could be combined.

Other additional resources provided were:

1. 1 checkout sheet per table

      · questions or intended learning outcomes related to the session

      · tested core, functional, or applied clinical anatomical knowledge

      · e.g. “Identify the intercostal artery, vein, and nerve and describe their location”, “Describe the safest insertion site for performing a thoracocentesis”

2. Reflection and action points sheet

      · Completed as a group

      · Prompt questions often provided

3. Whiteboard and pens

      · 1 per table

4. Textbooks

      · Anatomy, physiology, histology, embryology, neuroanatomy, neurology, and surgical textbooks and atlases provided

     · Shared between the class, multiple copies of each

The responses from 184 students showed that the approach was very well received: 89% of students felt more engaged with their learning because of the roles system and 82% felt a sense of accountability towards their group, preferring the approach to dissection without the roles. Students quoted “I have learnt so much more this anatomy block because of the checkout sheets and role” and “The new format for anatomy teaching is exceptional and a lot more intellectually stimulating”.

Students sometime found a disconnect between theory and practical-base roles, so encouraging communication between these roles is key!

Top tips for implementing the approach

· Include a variety of different active verbs for the checkout sheet: ‘identify’, ‘draw’, ‘discuss’, ‘define’, as well as clinical applications (if clinical cohort)

· Empower the Chair to take the lead, getting them to encourage communication between the roles

· Give prompt questions for the reflections and remind students to keep action points ‘specific and detailed’

· Consider textbooks instead of internet-based devices as available resources - avoided students googling and encouraged them to view a variety of textbooks

· Have tick boxes on the checkout sheet to allow for accountability and demonstrate achievement

· Use demonstrators/teaching assistants in the room to check students are completing the checkout sheet and to help with student learning

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The Symington Bequest Travel Fund

The Trustees of the Symington Bequest Fund make grants to Society Members towards costs associated with the conduction and dissemination of anatomical research.

Congratulations to our most recent awardees! Below is the list of the names of the individuals who were awarded this travel fund, and the reports of previous awardees.

Academic Year 2025/2026

Round 1

Dr Alaa Alshwayyat participated in the 5th International Scientific Congress on Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Budapest, Hungary, 11th to 14th March 2026. REPORT

Dr Miranda Steacy participated in the Gordon Research Conference and Seminar: Morphogenesis and Tissue Regeneration, Ventura, California, USA, 21st to 27th March 2026. REPORT

Round 2

Dr Marta Perera Perez participated in the Craniofacial Morphogenesis and Tissue Regeneration Gordon Research Conference, Ventura, California, USA, 22nd to 27th March 2026 REPORT Photo

Deadlines for next round for Receipt of Applications

Award application deadline date for round 4 of the 2025/2026 award year:

• Symington Bequest

• Barclay Smith Travelling Fund

• Fellowship of the Anatomical Society

• Public Engagement and Outreach

• Departmental Seminar Awards

Deadline: 16.06.2026

Award application deadline date for round 4 of the 2025/2026 award year:

• Support for Student Societies

Deadline: 02.06.2026

N.B: For academic year 2025/2026 onwards, there will only be 5 prize rounds and council meetings.

Anatomy Research Developmental Awards 2025/2026 

Please find below the approved report for one of the two Anatomical Society Anatomy Research Developmental Awards for the academic year 2025/2026.

Awardee: Dr Shane Browne

Institution: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)

Project Title: Next generation 3D model of ageing vasculature using cell-centred hydrogels

Project Resume

22^nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), 13^th-16^th August 2026, Melbourne, Australia

Early bird registration for the 22nd IFAA Congress closes on April 10th 2026!

This is an opportunity to share our work, insights, and innovations with a global audience of colleagues and thought leaders in anatomy and related fields, including:

• Anatomical Sciences Education

• Surgical and Clinical Anatomy

• Imaging Anatomy

• Neuroscience and Cell Biology

• Ethics and Law

• Anatomy for Everyone, including Biological Anthropology, Forensics, Histology, Developmental Anatomy/Embryology

For more information regarding the registration, please visit this link: https://ifaa2026.org/en-AU/pages/registration/registration

Journal of Anatomy

For a summary of many of the published articles check out @JournalofAnat. As a member of the Anatomical Society you have access to these articles and to the Journal of Anatomy through Wiley Online Library. 

Access the journal here.

The cover image for the latest issue is from a paper by A. Campbell et al., titled ‘Molecular insights into electroreceptor ribbon synapses from differential gene expression in sturgeon lateral line organs’. 

The study aimed to identify genes involved in electroreceptor ribbon synapses in sturgeon and found that they are largely similar to hair cell synapses (glutamatergic and sharing key proteins) but show some distinct molecular differences

Access the paper  here

The cover image for the journal's April issue is shown below:

The cover image for the latest issue shows two larval stages of sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) immunostained for Sox2 (top) and for Sox2 plus acetylated alpha-tubulin (bottom). In the younger stage (left), Sox2 labels lines of neuromasts plus other sense organs (eyes, olfactory pits, taste buds). In the older stage (right), Sox2 also labels electrosensory ampullary organs flanking the neuromast lines. In both stages, acetylated alpha-tubulin labels nerve fibres

Aging Cell

Aging Cell is a bi-monthly peer-reviewed, open access journal that aims to publish the highest quality, innovative research addressing fundamental issues in the biology of aging.  We would like to remind you that our colleagues Aging Cell are now back on X and sharing exciting news and updates on articles from their journal. Please give them a follow @aging_cell

Access the journal here: Aging Cell

The cover image for the journal's April issue is shown below and is based on the article 'Plasma Proteome Profiling of Centenarian Across Switzerland Reveals Key Youth-Associated Proteins' by Flavien Delhaes et al. 

The study aimed to identify plasma proteins associated with healthy aging in centenarians and found key “youth-like” proteins and pathways linked to longevity, particularly in metabolism, immunity, and cell survival.

Access the paper  here