University of California San Francisco
UCSF School of Medicine UCSF Medical Center

Anatomy Learning Center

The Anatomy Learning Center commits to providing learning resources towards developing the next generation of healthcare professionals, with a strong foundation in anatomy. 

The Anatomy Learning Center is where the first block of medical education takes place. Medical students dive into learning the human body by studying prosection, followed by dissection as they advance through the curriculum. Our facility is located on the 13th floor, with an expansive view of the north side of San Francisco, from the Presidio across Golden Gate Park toward the Financial District. On clear days you can see the Golden Gate Bridge!

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About the Anatomy Learning Center

Anatomy classroom

The Anatomy Learning Center is a 6,000-square-foot space that was renovated in 2011 and reopened in 2012 with state-of-the-art architecture, featuring efficient ventilation, multipurpose room, HD screens, energy-regenerating sinks, accessible power outlets and floods of natural light.

Facilities

Center Design Highlights:

  • We are fortunate enough to have our UCSF Willed Body Program provide vital specimens year-round. The ALC houses 20 prosected cadavers, an expansive prosections collection, ten real skeletons, skulls, brains and spinal cords. This teaching collection is essential to building our students' anatomy foundation.
  • The ALC is one of the country's most beautiful anatomy labs. Located on the 13th floor, its north side consists of windows, allowing natural light to fill the lab. It is arguably one of San Francisco's top sight-seeing spots, exclusive to UCSF members with pre-approved access. 
  • The lab has a strong ventilation system, operating at 36 air exchanges per hour. That is similar to having filtered air every two minutes. 
  • The Center has set up its own WiFi separate from campus WiFi to allow for high volumes of activity when classes are in session. 
  • Our audio-visual projection system links iPads to six 72-inch HD screens and overhead speakers, which allow faculty to conduct anatomy demos and show detailed anatomical structures to 70+ students at once.  
  • Students have 24/7 access to iPads in the lab. iPads have faculty-designed lab guides, anatomy exploration apps and internet access.
  • The lab is lined with plenty of whiteboards for self-studying, as well as peer collaboration to work through concepts together.
  • The Skywall can be lowered to separate two sides of the lab. This feature is often utilized to accommodate surgical training with unembalmed specimens, while students can continue to independently study on the other side. Simultaneous classes, independent study, trainings and research often take place in the ALC. 
  • The ALC multipurpose room is separate but adjacent to the lab, making it a convenient classroom and conference room.

Classroom

  • Faculty can easily meet with students before and after lab classes.
  • There are two LED screens with Airplay capabilities for presentations and conferencing.
  • The tables and chairs are all on wheels and able to be folded and stacked against the wall, allowing for quick transitions between conference, classroom, virtual reality space or yoga room!
  • Behind the whiteboard-lined closets, bone models and ultrasounds are readily available for students to use. The multipurpose room often becomes an interactive study space.
ALC Diagram 2
Equipment and Resources

The Anatomy Learning Center has an extensive collection of resources to support innovations in education and research:

  • iPads with faculty-designed lab guidesanatomy app
  • Basic dissection tools 
  • Ultrasound machines: 2 Sonosites and 1 Edge
  • Virtual Reality kits with anatomy learning app
  • 3D scanners
  • 3 Laparoscopic Towers: Stryker 1088 camera models, 16 and 20L High Flow insufflators
  • Covidien: Valleylab Force FXc Electrosurgical Unit 

 

ALC Diagram 2

 
Meet the Team

The Anatomy Learning Center commits to providing learning resources towards developing the next generation of healthcare professionals with a strong foundation in anatomy. Here are the instructors and staff dedicated to our mission statement!