Undergraduate medical student perceptions and learning outcomes related to anatomy training using Thiel- and ethanol-glycerin-embalmed tissues

Veronica Antipova; Julian F Niedermair; Martin Siwetz; Franz A Fellner; Sabine Löffler; Simone Manhal; Benjamin Ondruschka; Sandra M Pietras; Amélie J Poilliot; Michael L Pretterklieber; Andreas Wree; Niels Hammer

doi:10.1002/ase.2306

Undergraduate medical student perceptions and learning outcomes related to anatomy training using Thiel- and ethanol-glycerin-embalmed tissues

Anat Sci Educ. 2023 Nov-Dec;16(6):1144-1157. doi: 10.1002/ase.2306. Epub 2023 Jun 20.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Division of Macroscopic and Clinical Anatomy, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
² Central Radiology Institute, Johannes Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria.
³ Division of Virtual Morphology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria.
⁴ Department of Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
⁵ Office of the Vice-Rector for Studies and Teaching, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
⁶ Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
⁷ Anatomical Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
⁸ Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.
⁹ Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
¹⁰ Division of Biomechatronics, Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.

PMID: 37337999
DOI: 10.1002/ase.2306

Abstract

Anatomical dissection is known to serve as an integral tool in teaching gross anatomy, including postgraduate training. A variety of embalming techniques exist, resulting in different haptic and optical tissue properties. This study aimed to objectify learning outcomes and medical student perceptions related to the use of two widely used embalming techniques, namely Thiel and ethanol-glycerin embalming. Between 2020 and 2022, first- and second-year medical students enrolled in the course on topographic anatomy participated in this study. Objective structured practical examinations were carried out for the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and extremity regions following regional dissection just before the oral examinations began. Six to ten numbered tags were marked in prosections of each region in Thiel- and ethanol-glycerin-embalmed specimens. Following the examinations, the students were surveyed regarding the suitability of the two embalming techniques with respect to preservation, colorfastness, tissue pliability, and the suitability in preparing for their anatomy examinations. Consistently higher scores were achieved for the thoracic and abdominal regions in ethanol-glycerin-embalmed specimens when compared to Thiel. No benefit was found for Thiel-embalmed upper or lower extremities. Tissues embalmed with ethanol-glycerin were rated higher for preservation and suitability to achieve the learning objectives, tissue pliability was rated higher for Thiel-embalmed tissues. Ethanol-glycerin embalming appears to offer certain advantages for undergraduate students in recognizing visceral structures, which may align with students' ideas on tissue suitability for their learning. Consequently, the benefits reported for Thiel embalming for postgraduate study unlikely reflect its suitability for novices.

Keywords: OSPE; Thiel; dissection; embalming method; ethanol-glycerin fixation; topographic anatomy course; undergraduate education.

MeSH terms

Anatomy* / education
Cadaver
Embalming / methods
Ethanol
Glycerol
Humans
Students, Medical*

Substances

Glycerol
Ethanol