The standard medical microscopic anatomy course: histology circa 1998.

Advances in every aspect of the art and science of medicine have occurred at a breathtaking pace during the latter half of the 20th century: Watson and Crick demonstrated the structure of DNA in 1953; medical centers throughout the world are transplanting livers, lungs, and mismatched bone marrow. Even cadaver hands may soon be transplanted routinely.15 Mammals can be cloned,18 and stem cells have been used to construct organs as complex as artificial kidneys.3 As a result of this explosion of knowledge in both the basic and clinical sciences, medical school faculties have devoted much time and effort toward revising curricula designed to prepare their students to enter this challenging new world successfully. Changes in the curriculum are often made without extramural consultation. It is no surprise that the results are highly variable.