Dissection of Mammalian Organs and Opinions about It among Lower and Upper Secondary School Students - Study Results

Oct 15, 2026

Study results investigate how dissection of mammalian organs is used in anatomy and physiology lessons in Slovenian lower and upper secondary schools. Based on 485 questionnaire responses, dissection during Human Anatomy courses is preferred by most students, while only a small minority would opt out. In regular classes it is often conducted only occasionally or omitted, and some students never participate. The study recommends combining dissection with alternatives such as 3D models and virtual laboratories to improve anatomical knowledge and science interest, while providing opt-out options and informing students about the human-consumption or waste nature of the dissected organs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Dissection in biology education across countries

Purpose and instructional context

Dissection of Mammalian Organs and Opinions about It among Lower and Upper Secondary School Students Andreja Špernjak*1 and Andrej Šorgo2 • This article describes the results of a study that investigated the use of the dissection of organs in anatomy and physiology classes in Slovenian lower and upper secondary schools. Based on a sample of 485 questionnaires collected from Slovenian lower and upper secondary school students, we can conclude that dissection of mammalian organs during the courses on Human Anatomy would be a preferred activity for the majority of them. Opinions on such practices are positive, and only a minority of students would prefer to opt out. However, the practice is performed only occasionally in regular classes, or even omitted, and a number of students never participate in it. According to the results, we can suggest the dissection of mammalian organs in combination with alternatives, such as 3D models and virtual laboratories, as a preferred strategy to increase knowledge of anatomy and to raise interest in science. However, students should know that the organs they are dissecting were dedicated to human consumption, or are waste products in these processes. Opt-out options should be provided for those who do not want to participate in such activities. Keywords: biology laboratory work; dissection; interest in dissection; lower secondary students; upper secondary students 1 *Corresponding Author. University of Maribor, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Slovenia; [andreja.spernjak@uni-mb.si](andreja.spernjak@uni-mb.si). 2 University of Maribor, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Slovenia. Seciranje organov sesalcev v osnovi in srednji šoli ternjihovo mnenje o sekciji v razredu Andreja Špernjak in Andrej Šorgo • V članku so predstavljeni izsledki raziskave o sekciji organov pri urahanatomije in fiziologije človeka v osnovnih in srednjih šolah. V študijo je bilo vključenih 485 učencev in dijakov iz različnih osnovnih in srednji šol. Iz rezultatov lahko sklepamo, da si večina vprašanih pri urah biologije želi več sekcije organov. Učenci in dijaki v večini podpirajo izvedbo sekcije organov in le majhen odstotek vprašanih sekcije medizobraževanjem ne želi izvajati. Glede na rezultate vprašanih sklepamo, da je sekcija organov v slovenskih šolah redka praksa ali pa je med šolanjem sploh ne izvajajo in je popolnoma izpuščena. Ker si večina vprašanih pri urah biologije želi sekcije organov sesalcev kot prednostnostrategijo za dvig znanja o anatomiji sesalcev in povečanje zanimanja za naravoslovje, predlagamo izvedbo sekcije v kombinaciji z rabo drugihučnih pripomočkov, kot so 3D-modeli organov ali virtualni laboratoriji. Pri sekciji organov je učence in dijake treba seznaniti, da so bili organi za sekcijo namenjeni za prehrano ljudi ali pa so kot odpadni produkt v procesih predelave hrane. Za učence in dijake, ki pri sekciji ne želijo sodelovati, je treba zagotoviti možnost izbora in pripraviti druge dejavnosti. Ključne besede: biološko laboratorijsko delo, interes za seciranje, osnovnošolci, seciranje, srednješolci Introduction Biology is a discipline about living beings, and there is no scientific evidence about the presence of life outside organisms. Study of the interiors of‘homes of life’ is a part of the standard content of biology courses/subjects atthe primary and secondary educational levels and is regarded as essential for biology, veterinary and medical students (Macchi, Porzionato, Stecco & Caro, 2014) at the tertiary levels. In formal education, different instructional methods exist to attain knowledge and experience about the internal anatomy of animals and humans. Methods range from expository instructions, as verbal and multimedia presentations, exposition of models and fresh or conserved animals by teachers or teaching assistants, to the first-hand experiences of students as dissection in biology/anatomy classrooms, and in recent times as interactive vi

FAQs

What does the study investigate about dissection in school biology classes?

It examines how dissection of mammalian organs is used in anatomy and physiology instruction in Slovenian lower and upper secondary schools, and how students view that practice.

What do most students think about dissecting mammalian organs?

Most students prefer dissection during Human Anatomy courses, and opinions are generally positive, with only a minority wanting to opt out.

Why is the practice recommended to be combined with alternatives?

Because dissection alone is not consistently implemented in regular classes; combining it with 3D models and virtual laboratories is suggested to increase anatomical knowledge and student interest in science.

Oct 15, 2026

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