The Importance of Anatomy for Becoming an Effective Surgeon

Anatomy is one of the fundamental subjects taught in the medical curriculum. The knowledge of anatomy helps the student in a later career for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Over the past decades, anatomy teaching has undergone various changes. Students have been exposed to methods that help them learn lifelong. The traditional curriculum has its own merits and demerits. Many institutions have adopted the modern integrated approach. Information technology has been incorporated into teaching and learning. There is a need to look at the curriculum in any institution and make necessary changes. Also, we need to determine which skills to prioritize and which need to be phased out. Artificial intelligence could be incorporated into teaching and learning. Anatomy plays an important role in all surgical fields. The volatile subject of anatomy is often quickly forgotten, and young surgeons must revisit the anatomy department to brush up on their knowledge and sharpen their skills. The present review discusses the importance of anatomy in traditional and modern curricula, the challenges faced in the transition, and its importance in the surgical field. We discuss the role of variations, incisions, wound suturing, and dressing, which could benefit the surgical field. We also highlight various teaching tools that could benefit teaching and learning. KEYWORDS: Anatomy, learning, skills, medical education.