In the BIP “surgical anatomy - from theory to dissection”, anatomical knowledge and surgical skills should be acquired step by step from learning the theoretical principles to practical work on anatomical body donors. Anatomical knowledge is brought into surgical context.

As part of the digital online training

• anatomical landmarks are shown and related to relevant anatomical structures with the help of online lectures and
• surgical approaches for specific anatomical regions are presented using interactive video transmissions.

In the physical mobility part

• dissections of the specific surgical regions will be performed on anatomical bodies(cadavers)
• surgical procedures are performed together with experienced surgeons on anatomical body donors. 

The physical mobility will be hosted at the Institute for Anatomy and Cell Analysis; University of Tübingen, Germany.

1) Surgical anatomy of the neck

Physical part:

• Dissection course with anatomists: Dissection of the cervical fasciae, arteries, veins and nerves.
• Discussion with surgeons on the anatomical specimen

2) Surgical anatomy of the upper gastrointestinal tract:

Physical part:

• Dissection course with anatomists: The vessels and duct of the gastroduodenal ligament, the omental bursa
• Discussion with surgeons on the anatomical specimen

3) Surgical anatomy of the lower gastrointestinal tract:

Physical part:

• Dissection course with anatomists: the superior and inferior mesenteric artery and veins
• Discussion with surgeons on the anatomical specimen

4) Surgical anatomy of the retroperitoneum:

Physical part:

• Dissection course with anatomists: the renal artery and veins
• Discussion with surgeons on the anatomical specimen

5) Surgical anatomy of the cerebello-pontine angle:

Physical part:

• Dissection course with anatomists: the cerebello-pontine angle
• Discussion with surgeons on the anatomical specimen

Students, participating anatomy professors and surgeons from the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen will plan and perform a surgical live transmission to show anatomical landmarks that have been identified during the physical mobility part.

The virtual mobility component of the program combines a synchronal face-to-face teaching with an online asynchronous sessions part. The virtual component will consist of five meetings, distributed in 8 weeks, approximately 3 hours every second week.

At the beginning of each session, one topic dealing with topographical anatomy of the surgical region will be explained by lecturers. This is followed by a second asynchronous virtual part, where participants and lecturer will watch a surgical procedure performed on human body donors, which is enhanced by didactical features.

The total amount of teaching will take 43 hours. It is divided into 15 hours lecturing and 32 hours additionally dedicated to being individual work.