Dissection as a pedagogical tool in anatomy teaching in Portugal

Over the course of history, there has not been any consensus regarding the importance of using human cadavers for educational and research purposes. In the past, to obtain the cadavers essential for teaching, it was necessary not only to use cadavers of the condemned and those not claimed by their families, but also to steal and/or purchase corpses. These solutions, besides being ethically and legally inadmissible, always proved to be insufficient for the needs of medical schools. Over the last few decades, global awareness of the legitimacy of cadaver donation has gradually increased, and this is considered today to be the dignified way to fill this need. This article presents a historical, legal and pedagogical review of the literature on the importance of using of human cadavers in the teaching of human anatomy in medical schools, including in Portugal, especially the role of cadaveric dissection complementarily with other teaching tools.