Number
244
Name
Weighing In: Establishing Organ Norms in Embalmed Human Specimens Dissected by Medical Students for Anatomy Education
Date & Time
Monday, June 8, 2026, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location Name
Oglethorpe Ballroom
Speakers
Authors
Mary Eldridge, Medical College of Georgia
Erin Eroglu, Medical College of Georgia
Carys Thompson, Medical College of Georgia
Keri Alber, Medical College of Georgia
Amanda Barret, Medical College of Georgia
Shannon Barwick, Medical College of Georgia
Anna Edmonson, Vanderbilt School of Medicine
Daniel Hannah, Medical College of Georgia
Melina Johnson, Medical College of Georgia
David Kozlowski, Medical College of Georgia
Morganne Manuel, Medical College of Georgia
Olivia Wireman, Medical College of Georgia
Presentation Topic(s)
Curriculum
Description
PURPOSE
At the Medical College of Georgia, medical students participate in the
First Patient Discovery Project, which involves recording detailed
observations of the body during dissection and hypothesizing the cause of
death in their body donors. A key component of this project is removal and
weighing of internal organs (i.e. heart, liver, lung, spleen, and kidneys).
Students compare donor organ weights to published data sets to assess whether
they fall within a “normal” range. However, most documented organ weights in
the literature are of non-embalmed, or “fresh,” specimens, making direct
comparisons impossible as embalming significantly alters organ weight. This
study seeks to establish normative weight ranges for embalmed hearts, livers,
lungs, spleens, and kidneys for use in anatomical education.
METHODS
Embalmed organ weight data from heart, lungs, liver, kidney, and spleen
were collected from 91 cadavers over four years by medical students.
Statistical analyses were performed to develop ranges of normative values for
these embalmed organs. The data was then analyzed using cumulative frequency
distribution and displayed using a non-linear fit of histogram percentiles
for each organ.
RESULTS
On average, organs of female donors weighed significantly less than their
male donor counterparts, and thus data were separated by sex in the
histograms. A cumulative frequency distribution of weight (g), separated by
sex, was generated for the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, and brain. A
comprehensive approach to the data was taken without excluding statistical
outliers.
CONCLUSIONS
This study establishes sex-specific reference ranges for embalmed organ
weights, providing a foundational dataset for use in anatomical education. As
the first standardized organ-weight dataset for the First Patient Discovery
Project, it fills a critical gap by giving students reliable norms in
cadaver-based learning. These ranges improve the ability to interpret
cadaver-based pathology and support integration of quantitative analysis into
gross anatomy curricula.
At the Medical College of Georgia, medical students participate in the
First Patient Discovery Project, which involves recording detailed
observations of the body during dissection and hypothesizing the cause of
death in their body donors. A key component of this project is removal and
weighing of internal organs (i.e. heart, liver, lung, spleen, and kidneys).
Students compare donor organ weights to published data sets to assess whether
they fall within a “normal” range. However, most documented organ weights in
the literature are of non-embalmed, or “fresh,” specimens, making direct
comparisons impossible as embalming significantly alters organ weight. This
study seeks to establish normative weight ranges for embalmed hearts, livers,
lungs, spleens, and kidneys for use in anatomical education.
METHODS
Embalmed organ weight data from heart, lungs, liver, kidney, and spleen
were collected from 91 cadavers over four years by medical students.
Statistical analyses were performed to develop ranges of normative values for
these embalmed organs. The data was then analyzed using cumulative frequency
distribution and displayed using a non-linear fit of histogram percentiles
for each organ.
RESULTS
On average, organs of female donors weighed significantly less than their
male donor counterparts, and thus data were separated by sex in the
histograms. A cumulative frequency distribution of weight (g), separated by
sex, was generated for the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, and brain. A
comprehensive approach to the data was taken without excluding statistical
outliers.
CONCLUSIONS
This study establishes sex-specific reference ranges for embalmed organ
weights, providing a foundational dataset for use in anatomical education. As
the first standardized organ-weight dataset for the First Patient Discovery
Project, it fills a critical gap by giving students reliable norms in
cadaver-based learning. These ranges improve the ability to interpret
cadaver-based pathology and support integration of quantitative analysis into
gross anatomy curricula.
Presentation Tag(s)
Student Presentation