Celebrating World Anatomy Day 2023

Celebrating World Anatomy Day 2023

Clinical Anatomy Discipline staff and undergraduate and postgraduate students wearing brightly coloured T-shirts with the inscription Anatomy Alive, filled the quad on UKZN’s Westville campus to raise awareness about anatomy education.

It was all in celebration of World Anatomy Day under the theme – declared by the International Community of Anatomists – Teaching Diversity in Anatomy.

Senior lecturer in the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences Dr Carmen Rennie described anatomy as the study of the human body in structure, form and function, adding that the human body ‘is a gift that should be celebrated.’

Rennie said the basic science of human anatomy was the cornerstone in health science studies such as medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, sports medicine and pharmacy.

Bachelor of Medical Science third-year students had been tasked to identify clinical problems they felt affected South Africans and they deliberated on affected anatomy and anatomical variations, brainstorming methods to raise awareness on social media platforms. They created their own short YouTube and TikTok videos as well as educational pamphlets which the University community were able to view on a big screen at the campus quad.

The students aimed to raise awareness about clinical issues and how to manage them, showcasing

anatomical research and illustrating clinical issues such as ischemic strokes, stress, amnesia, depression, kidney stones and sport related injuries.

Rennie said the day’s commemoration was in line with South Africa’s vibrant culture, and ethnic and religious diversity.

She advised students to study clinical anatomy because of the myriad career opportunities in the field at medical institutions, research units, Higher Educational Institutions, and in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Words: Lunga Memela

Photograph: Supplied