Facts on Body Donation to Science

Human bodies have been used for education throughout medical history.

The human body is a delicate and complicated system of tissue, organs and bone. The study of the human body for anatomical studies in art, medicine and other scientific disciplines has been documented for hundreds of years. The use of actual human bodies for study is invaluable for medical students and scientific research. Legally, a person must designate before his death that he wishes to donate his body for medical or research purposes.

History of Human Dissection

The first documented example of a human dissection was in the 3rd century BC. The dissection was performed by two Alexandrian surgeons named Herophilus and Erasistratus. Arabic physicians in the Middle Ages often utilized dissection. Leonardo da Vinci managed to dissect around 30 corpses in a mortuary in Rome over a period of several years until he was ordered by Pope Leo X to cease. The approval or disapproval of dissection fluctuated in different countries throughout history and was often limited to the use of the corpses of condemned criminals.

Uses of Cadavers

Nothing can replace the use of actual human bodies in the study of anatomy, medicine and biology. Human bodies are usually used in teaching hospitals for medical students and research. However, medical studies are far from the only use for cadavers. NASA has made use of cadavers when testing new and experimental vehicles when crash test dummies have been determined to be insufficient.

Donation Process

Though state medical boards have their own policies and procedures for donation, in general the donation process is quite simple. The process begins by the donor sending a letter of intent to whichever company or program he wishes to donate his body. The next step is notifying a family member, physician or anyone who will be in charge of the remains after the donor is deceased. Due to policies not being consistent within each state, a donor should also investigate state laws and donor policies for his particular location.

What Happens After a Donation

Donated bodies are usually sent to a facility several hundred miles away, sometimes across the country, and distributed to research and training hospitals. These moves are put into effect in order to prevent students or researchers from dissecting someone they could have known while they were alive. From these new distribution areas, the bodies are sent out for research and study.

The Remains

Typically the use of a body will be used for medical training and research. Although the dissection process will destroy some or most of the body, what remains is typically cremated and returned to the family of the deceased. This process varies depending on what the body is used for; however, the remains are usually returned anywhere from six months to several years later.

References

• History World: History of Anatomy
• Space Ref: Nasa's Use of Human Cadavers In Testing the Design of the Orion Spacecraft
• Virginia Department of Health: How to make a donation