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The development of anatomy: from macroscopic body dissections to stem cell–derived organoids

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Abstract

Anatomy as a descriptive topic of research and instruction in medicine has been increasingly influenced by discoveries in molecular cell and developmental biology and most recently the advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells and organoids. We summarize here how anatomy has been influenced by developmental and stem cell biologists, and how in vitro modelling of the three-dimensional body environment is emerging to understand structure and function of cells during differentiation processes in development and disease.

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Acknowledgments

We are acknowledging the continuous financial support by the Medical Faculty, Ruhr-Universität Bochum for our stem cell research and teaching activities. Considering the impact that the above-reviewed developments in stem cell research have on human anatomy, we were encouraged to establish the specialized ‘Master Programme‚ Molecular and Developmental Stem Cell Biology’ headed at the Department of Anatomy and Molecular Embryology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (iSTEM, http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/istem/index.html.en). The international four semesters course programme towards a ‘Master of Science’ includes lectures and courses on ‘Stem Cell Physiology’, ‘Molecular Genetic Methods’, ‘Tissue Engineering’, ‘Pathology of Degenerative Diseases’ and ‘Advances in Stem Cell Research’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany

    Beate Brand-Saberi & Holm Zaehres

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  1. Beate Brand-Saberi
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  2. Holm Zaehres
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Correspondence to Beate Brand-Saberi.

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Dedicated to Professor Dr. med. Detlev Drenckhahn, in appreciation of his constant and outstanding efforts as an Editor-in-Chief of Histochemistry and Cell Biology.

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Brand-Saberi, B., Zaehres, H. The development of anatomy: from macroscopic body dissections to stem cell–derived organoids. Histochem Cell Biol 146, 647–650 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-016-1497-5

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