Stop-motion anatomy and digitally reversed dissection of a human hand

This paper and accompanying video present stop-motion and digitally reversed dissection as contemporary methods of exhibiting cadaveric anatomy. Stop-motion techniques can give the impression of an ‘invisible dissector’, providing a unique and intriguing view of the body disassembling itself. Digitally reversed dissection then allows reversal of stop-motion footage, enabling the viewer to witness the body being reassembled, thus highlighting structural relationships from a new perspective. This alternate form of time-lapse video was established as an effective method of recording small and complex body regions without the dissector obstructing the field of view. Implementation of these techniques is showcased and described here with reference to dissection of a soft-fix cadaveric hand. Both technical and pedagogical strengths and limitations of these techniques are discussed and some advice on production of dissection videos has been offered.