Workshop in clinical anatomy for residents in gynecology and obstetrics

A workshop in the clinical anatomy of the female pelvic viscera has been part of the training program for the first year residents in Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Padova since the 1999-2000 academic year. The purpose of the workshop is to offer a direct experience of practical anatomy despite a shortage of cadavers. It is designed for six residents who work in three teams on three specimens. The anatomical specimens are unembalmed, unfixed, female pelvic visceral blocs that are harvested from the cadavers 24 hr after death. They are stored at -12 degrees C and removed from the freezer 12 hr before the workshop. The workshop is 3 hr in length and has two parts: one on theory and one practical. In the theoretical section (30 min), the teacher presents the topographical anatomy of the specimens and the residents analyze a clinically oriented worksheet. In the practical section (2 hr), the residents identify viscera, vessels, and nerves through inspection and palpation, and then a step-by-step dissection is carried out. In the last section (30 min), the workshop includes presentations on the three specimens that illustrate anatomical variability and assess knowledge of topographical anatomy. For many residents, this is the first practical experience of the anatomy of the female pelvic viscera because the anatomical courses for medical students do not include direct dissection by students. The unfixed viscera preserves the natural characteristics of the different tissues that exhibit the aspects of living organs, such as color, softness, and pliability, enhancing the knowledge of anatomy. The worksheet is structured as a guide to the anatomical basis of physical examination through inspection and palpation of the viscera. It also introduces the residents to the surgical anatomy of the female pelvis through a brief and selective dissection focused on the relationship between the different regional systems.