Archives of anatomy from the 17th to 21st century

The article provides an insight into the history of anatomy and anatomical teaching from the 17th to 21st century. A form of teaching that commenced by expressing the anatomical intricacy using paintings, sketches, and models evolved into museums with formalin-preserved specimens, corrosion casts, plastination, and finally culminating in the contemporary museums with electronic screens and audiovisual aids. Anatomical teaching has evolved with time from blackboard teaching to use of overhead projectors, imaging, demonstrations, and simulation. Anatomy is a science which, to be expressed in all its grandeur, requires a combined teamwork of anatomists, renowned artists, modelers, technicians, and computer experts. The latest three-dimensional viewing capabilities will certainly be applied to teaching anatomy in future. This will enable a medical student to understand anatomy more appropriately in all its dimensions