Done to death: the use of the living body in anatomy teaching

The preserved cadaver is the canonical text we expect medical students to read anatomy from. It is a rite of passage invested with cultural meaning beyond its information content. But in real clinical contexts doctors encounter the living body itself. 

This project promotes the iconoclastic view that anatomy learning should be through the living body bringing benefits and avoiding harms. I use peer examination body painting medical imaging and art. The implications of my experiences are cross-disciplinary not just across health disciplines. Many innovative teachers may find themselves in the uncomfortable position of challenging the cultural norms of their subject.