Clinical Anatomy MSc

Human anatomy is a core component of undergraduate medical degree programmes, as well as programmes allied to medicine such as radiography and physiotherapy.

However, the relative amount of anatomy taught on these programmes is considerably less than in years gone by, and there are limited opportunities across the UK (and further afield) for medical and dental students to gain an in-depth knowledge of human anatomy beyond their core programmes.

We have established this programme not only to directly address this deficiency but also to offer an opportunity for graduate entry intercalating medical/dental students to significantly enhance their clinically-relevant anatomical knowledge and research skills.

Aims

There are three main aims of the MSc Clinical Anatomy programme, providing you with:

• the opportunity to gain a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of clinically-related human anatomy by dissection
• a comprehensive understanding of the anatomical basis of clinical subjects, including surgery, radiology and histology
• experience of undertaking a cutting-edge anatomically/clinically-related research project

The programme’s principal educational and clinical aims are specifically to give you thorough knowledge in all aspects of anatomy, including:

• gross anatomy
• embryology
• neuroanatomy
• anatomical imaging

You will also gain knowledge in clinical-related subjects including radiology, histology and surgery, to the level of being competent to teach these elements to medical students and to students in professions allied to medicine.

Why Edinburgh

The unique elements of this programme are:

Hands-on cadaveric dissection

You will gain a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of human anatomy by dissection.

Bespoke modules covering anatomical aspects of radiology, histology and surgery

The knowledge gained will enable you to:

• understand and apply basic anatomical principles underpinning surgery, radiology and histology
• locate and identify key anatomical structures, including major clinical phenotypes, on medical images
• identify and interpret light microscopic histological images of core human tissues

A clinically-orientated research project

This will provide you with an opportunity to gain a more in-depth working knowledge of a particular aspect of clinically-relevant anatomy.

Complementing these three strands will be a lecture-based Medical Law and Ethics course.

You will learn:

• the health and safety of embalming procedures and handling bodies
• the legal and historical aspects of anatomy in Scotland and the UK
• an introduction to the ethics of using bodies in medical education

You will also explore clinical techniques used to image the body.

The research project gives you an opportunity to gain a more in-depth knowledge of a particular aspect of anatomy and to present your findings by writing a dissertation.

The University of Edinburgh is currently ranked 15th in the World in the QS World University Rankings 2023.

The programme is tailored specifically for intercalating medical or dental students.

By the end of the programme you should be able to demonstrate:

• extensive and detailed working knowledge and understanding of clinically-relevant human anatomy, to a level allowing you to teach anatomy to both undergraduate and postgraduate students
• to relate normal processes of embryology and development to anatomy observed by dissection
• an appreciation of the health and safety aspects of handling bodies for dissection
• a thorough understanding of the use of bodies and the law
• an understanding of the ethics of using bodies for medical education
• a critical knowledge of the anatomical basis of radiology, histology and surgery
• an ability to work independently on an anatomically- or clinically-based research project

We anticipate that you will return to your medical/dental studies on completion of the programme, and utilise your new knowledge and skills to accelerate your clinical career and widen your career options.

This programme is a one-year, full-time MSc. It consists of 120 taught credits, with a 60-credit dissertation component.

The credit rating for each of the courses is set at SCQF Level 11.

Semester 1

• Basic Human Anatomy, Imaging and Embryology 1 (40 credits)
• Surgery, Radiology and Histology 1 (10 credits)
• Anatomy Law and Ethics (10 credits)

Semester 2

• Basic Human Anatomy, Imaging and Embryology 2 (40 credits)
• Surgery, Radiology and Histology 2 (10 credits)
• Neuroanatomy (10 credits)

Semester 3

• Dissertation (60 credits)