Dissecting the Dissection Laboratory: Elements for Designing a Human Anatomy Laboratory: The Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS)-Anatomical Donor Stewardship (ADS) Committee, Lab Resources Subcommittee

Authors

• Rhiannon E. Robinson, Boston University
• Abbey Breckling, University of Illinois at Chicago
• Danielle N. Edwards, University of Louisville
• Nicole Geske, Michigan State University
• Burhan Gharaibeh, University of Pittsburgh
• Bobbie J. Leeper, Seton Hill University
• Molly Ostwald, Arapahoe Community College
• Mary Schilling, Northern Kentucky University
• Bridgett Severt, Wright State University
• Kelsey Stevens, Briar Cliff University
• J.P. Swigart, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
• Jonathan J. Wisco, Boston University
• Melissa Zolnierz, Kansas City University
• Jeremy J. Grachan, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Anatomical Sciences Education

Abstract

The human anatomy dissection laboratory is a critical component of anatomical and medical education. Development, maintenance, and stocking of these laboratory spaces have unique demands, with all of the challenges in running a laboratory with Biosafety Laboratory Level 2 (BSL-2) classification, housing a large volume of tissues saturated with volatile chemicals, and safeguarding human beings all within the same space. At times, educators or laboratory managers may be tasked with helping to design a new anatomy laboratory from scratch, to give input on the renovation of an existing laboratory space (which may or may not have been used with human anatomy donors previously), or may inherit a human anatomy laboratory space as their own to manage. This Guide was written by members of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) Anatomical Donor Stewardship (ADS) Lab Resources Subcommittee to guide those developing new anatomy dissection laboratories or working in existing ones.

DOI

10.1002/ase.70344

Publication Date

9-16-2026

Keywords

anatomy laboratory design, anatomy laboratory resources, body donors, cadavers, dissection

ISSN

1935-9780

Recommended Citation

Robinson RE, Breckling A, Edwards DN, Geske N, Gharaibeh B, Leeper BJ, Ostwald M, Schilling M, Severt B, Stevens K, Swigart J, Wisco JJ, Zolnierz M, Grachan JJ. Dissecting the Dissection Laboratory: Elements for Designing a Human Anatomy Laboratory: The Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS)-Anatomical Donor Stewardship (ADS) Committee, Lab Resources Subcommittee. Anatomical Sciences Education. 2026; . doi: 10.1002/ase.70344.