The history of anatomy education is a long and sordid one.
With the first documented scientific dissections carried out as early as the third century B.C., it's the oldest scientific discipline of medicine. Unfortunately, throughout the centuries since, anatomy education has been hijacked for nefarious purposes; from grave robbing to a global human bone trade, and dubious characters using the discipline for personal profit.
Yet, today’s respectful and consenting modern scientific practices couldn’t be more different from our body-snatching past.
“I let the students know that respect starts with consent,” says UNE Human Anatomy Laboratory Manager, Ryan Harris, “and that our body donors have consented and willed us to learn from their bodies. We are fulfilling their wish by learning from them. But they no longer have a voice to express dissent, so accountability comes from us all. I let students know to treat and talk about our body donors as if it were their own grandparents or parents. There is a great vulnerability and trust that comes from our donors and their families. My main priority is to ensure we maintain that trust.”
There is a great vulnerability and trust that comes from our donors and their families. My main priority is to ensure we maintain that trust.
Ryan coordinates UNE’s Body Donor Program and manages the human anatomy lab, which involves a varied list of major responsibilities, including but not limited to: registering and accepting people into the program, embalming and prosecting (dissection with the goal of showing it as a detailed specimen) donors, managing the technical and safety components of running a lab, and teaching anatomy from the small world-class facility at UNE.
Ryan at the UNE memorial garden.
“UNE’s human anatomy facility primarily operates to educate our health science students about the human body, but we also have the capacity to undertake cadaveric anatomy research," he says.
“Many people will learn basic concepts whilst studying anatomy without cadavers; however, studying medicine and allied health requires an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the body’s form and how it functions. Our students will view organs and muscles and bones and appreciate just how large or intricate a nerve can be, or how flexible a healthy artery is versus how stiff and almost bony an atherosclerotic one is, or how spongy the lung is and just how much emphysema can deteriorate it.
Our students will view organs and muscles and bones and appreciate just how large or intricate a nerve can be, or how flexible a healthy artery is versus how stiff and almost bony an atherosclerotic one is, or how spongy the lung is and just how much emphysema can deteriorate it.
“A body donor gives the gift of their body after death, and we appreciate it very much."
Having grown up near Toogoolawah in south-east Queensland, Ryan moved to Townsville and studied exercise physiology at James Cook University, where he was given the opportunity to work as an anatomy tutor.
“That progressed into casual technician work and a part-time associate lecturer position. I worked as an exercise physiologist for a year, but I enjoyed the anatomy roles more. I then moved to UNE in 2018 and have been the lab manager and occasional lecturer ever since.”
Ryan also develops and manages innovative and engaging activities to promote public learning experiences, including anatomy body painting and 3D printing new anatomical models.
However, the most exciting part about the role for Ryan is raising public awareness of historical versus current anatomy practices, as well as the workings of the human body itself.
“There are some truly unique aspects about what I teach and what I do – embalming and prosecting bodies, for example. I think the most exciting part is the lightbulb moments when students or the public go, ‘Ah, I get it’ or ’Wow, that’s interesting’, whether that be talking about aspects of my job or how something in the human body works by relating our biological structures to everyday objects.
“I’m also really interested in discussing how far we’ve come from immoral historical events, such as sourcing cadavers via grave robbing, to our modern consenting practices, laws and culture, as well as our attitudes towards body donation and death in general. I love to bring people into my world without bringing them into the lab.”
I love to bring people into my world without bringing them into the lab.
Similarly, there are challenges to the role Ryan has to navigate. Some bring with them a deep emotional impact.
“The most challenging part of my job is letting people know that we are unable to accept their loved one’s body. This is literally their dying wish – and for whatever reason, I am sometimes unable to accept them.
“It crushes me every time – and if this has happened to anyone reading this, I am truly sorry. I really appreciate everyone’s intention to donate. It is a selfless act to will your body to science, and so if the next-of-kin then have to organise a cremation or burial at short notice in a time when they may just want to grieve … I just feel terrible for them.”
The way Ryan describes his workplace sounds like a rollercoaster of emotion. Yet, what could be a heavy and daunting place seems almost serene when he talks about it.
“I work with some of the most amazing people in the world. The heads of school and academic staff are truly inspiring and our professional staff make coming to work a pleasure. Our body donors are selfless. Their next-of-kin are some of the most considerate and gracious people I talk to. Our students are curious and eager. It takes many spokes to make the wheel work and I’m blessed to be a part of it.”
The future of anatomy education aims to be a bright and respectful one.
