Mortui Vivos Docent
The Dead Teaches the Living
Gratitude, Respect, and Reverence
Anatomical instructions all over the world would invariably utilize the study of human remains where we visualize, feel, experience and truly understand what we are made of. Cadavers are revered as “Silent Teachers” for the wealth of knowledge that they bequeath to future healers of man. They are unanimously regarded as the gold standard for learning anatomy.1,2,3
However, the scarcity of body donors remains a persistent problem all over the world. This is further compounded by socio-cultural norms, religion, and ethical issues.4 Over the years this scarcity challenged medical educators to use every possible synthetic materials to create models and mannequins to depict life-like renditions of the human body. With the marvel of digital age, augmented and virtual reality developers claim to have the remedy for the absence of human cadavers.5,6 Indeed these innovations supplement true dissections and study of real anatomy provided by human remains. However, studies have shown that majority of students of anatomy prefer the intricacies that a true “silent mentor” provides.7,8,9,10 They perceive that the knowledge they gain from “silent teachers” would best prepare them to become bonafide healers of man. Furthermore, full pledged physicians and specialists regularly go back to anatomy laboratories to simulate procedures and hone their skills on “silent teachers” to ensure patient safety.11
1. Ghosh SK. Human cadaveric dissection: A historical account from ancient Greece to the modern era. Anatomy and Cell
Biology. 2015;48:153-169.
2. Habicht JL, Kiessling C, Winkelmann A. Bodies for anatomy education in medical schools: An overview of the sources of
cadavers worldwide. Academic Medicine, 2018; Vol.93, No.9
3. Varner C, Dixon L, Simons MC. The Past, present, and future: A discussion of cadaver use in medical and veterinary
education. Frontiers in Veterinary Medicine. 2021; 8:720740
4. Comer AR. The evolving ethics of anatomy: Dissecting an unethical past in order to prepare for a future of ethical
practice. The Anatomical Record. 2022; 305:818-826.
5. Li Z, Peng C, Zhao M, He Q. A Bibliometric Analysis of Virtual Reality in Anatomy Teaching Between 1999 and 2022.
Frontiers in Education. 2022; 7:874406. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2022.874406
6. Uruthiralingam U, Rea PM. Augmented and virtual reality in anatomical education: A systemic review. Advances in
Experimental Medical Biology. 2020:1235:89-101
7. Alamneh YM. Knowledge and attitude towards ethical cadaver dissection among medical and health sciences students,
1997-2020: A systemic review and meta-analysis. Translational Research in Anatomy. 2021; 25: 100149
8. Asante EZ, Maalman RS, Ali MA, et al. Perception and attitude of medical students towards Cadaveric dissection in
anatomical science Education. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2021; 31,4:867-874
9. Dissabandara LO, Nirthanan SN, Khoo TK. Role of cadaveric dissections in modern medical curricula: A study on
student perceptions. Anatomy and Cell Biology. 2015;48:205-212
10. Hussein IH, Dany M, Forbes W, et al. Perceptions of human cadaver dissection by medical students: A highly valued
experience. Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology. 2015; 120:3, 162-171
11. Memon, I. Cadaver dissection is obsolete in medical training! A misinterpreted Notion. Medical Principles and Practice,
2018; DOI:1159/000488320
Our “Silent Teachers” are carefully prepared and preserved by our licensed embalmers into two categories. Regularly embalmed “Silent Teachers” for our medical students to learn the basics of gross anatomy, and soft embalmed “Silent Teachers” specifically adapted for wet simulation courses for clinicians and specialists. Our soft embalmed “Silent Teachers” utilize a modified Thiel embalming process tweaked to suite our tropical climate.
Regularly embalmed silent teachers utilize an inexpensive and simple process that renders tissues acceptable for dissection to learn anatomy. Body parts are however not very pliant and not suitable for simulating clinical procedures. Soft embalmed silent teachers on the other hand assume the normal suppleness of a living individual. Joints are very flexible. Organ tissues are near life-like in consistency. Its process of embalming is however expensive and tedious. They however offer the best experience in performing or simulating clinical procedures from ultrasonography, needling, and endoscopic procedures. Clinicians and specialists get their best learning experiences from soft embalmed silent teachers.
Regular embalming
Soft embalming
Regular embalming
Soft embalming
Prayers for our "Silent Teachers"
Prepared by Father Marlito Ocon S.J.
UP-PGH Chaplain
-Almighty and loving Father, our Creator, you give us life in the waters
of baptism.
-We gather here before you today, to ask your blessing.
-Bless and give peace to the soul of our brothers and sisters, whose
bodies lie before us.
-Show your mercy to them now.
-Bring them to the joys and happiness of life in your kingdom.
-Grant that they may receive the reward of eternal life for offering their
flesh to further the medical arts and science of the human body.
-Grant consolation also to their family and friends as we praise you,
for the healing that you offer to us, your children.
-May we all give them the utmost dignity that they deserve.
-These bodies are here to be subjected to dissection and studies to
further enhance our knowledge in medicine, so that we can
promote health, prolong life, and advance our knowledge of
protecting and preserving human life against all threat possible.
-May we be reminded all the times that these bodies were once living
with souls.
-Their lives changed but did not end.
-Their physical bodies are here to teach us.
-May we treat them with utmost respect and handle them with great
reverence.
-May their soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the
mercy of God, rest in peace.
-And may eternal rest be granted unto them Lord, and let perpetual
light shine upon them.
-A M E N . . .