Anatomy@Edinburgh

Successful Launch of Brand New Public Workshop: Building Body Parts

On Saturday 22nd April 2023, Dr Jennifer Paxton and Ms Victoria McCulloch, successfully ran the first of a series of brand new public workshops; Building Body Parts!

Building Body Parts was the first of three-brand new Public Anatomy Workshops to run in 2023. The day was split into two parts, the history and developments of visualising human anatomy, and how tissue engineering can create new body parts. The day started with an introduction to Anatomy@Edinburgh and an overview of the exciting day ahead, before Ms Victoria McCulloch discussed anatomical visualisation with the workshop participants. Victoria explored the history of anatomical visualisation techniques, and how our understanding of visualising human anatomy has advanced to allow for 3D scanning and 3D printing to aid in novel anatomical teaching tools and the significant impact across other related fields. Attendees then had the opportunity to view rare and historic anatomical models from the Anatomical Museum’s collections, and visited the ATLAS 3D printing and scanning facility, seeing the 3D printers in action and handling some 3D printed objects.

The second part of the day, led by Dr Jennifer Paxton, focused on the advancement of tissue engineering and how this new technology can be used to build new body parts for implantation after injury or disease. During the afternoon practical session, attendees followed the story of a ‘patient’ from their tendon injury, through the gross and microanatomical structures important in repair, and the key pieces of knowledge gained to tissue engineer a tendon replacement. Attendees were then able to get hands-on with creating their own tissue engineering scaffolds using materials that are currently used in research labs for making tissue replacements.

The day was extremely successful, with attendees leaving wonderful feedback and comments. We look forward to running this workshop again!

Our two other new workshops, Athletic Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, will run on 8th July and 11thNovember respectively. For more information on our Public Anatomy Workshops and to apply for your chosen workshop, please visit Public Anatomy Workshops.

Photos of practical activities from the Building Body Parts Public Anatomy Workshop
Left image: Attendees making their own soft tissue engineering scaffold. Right image: Attendees using the Anatomage table