Anatomy teaching for medical undergraduates: General practice as a guideline? The brain

Basic science teaching, particularly the teaching of gross anatomy, is at p resent a highly controversial topic. How much and what kind of anatomy shou ld be taught to medical undergraduates nowadays? In conducting the present study we based our proposals on the criterion of general medical relevance. Therefore, we sent an anatomical questionnaire to a sample of Swiss genera l practitioners. Here, we present the results derived from questions on the human brain, discussing them in connection with the other organs so far in vestigated. The results obtained suggest that a common body of anatomical k nowledge appropriate for the field of general medical practice does in fact exist. We believe that this basic stock can serve as a guideline for decis ion makers involved in the development of curricula, which can be fitted in to the time frame available for anatomy teaching today while still guarante eing a sound level of competence required for general practice of medicine. We also hope that this approach may serve as a model for the teaching of o ther basic sciences. Clin. Anat. 12:115-119, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc .