Mr. Paul Krieger
Grand Rapids Comm. Coll.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
CADAVER LAB:
SUGGESTIONS
The following is a suggested list of some of the special considerations for a cadaver
lab based on the design we used at Grand Rapids Community College.
General questions to answer:
1) Refrigeration or not? We decided against it though we can program the
temperature of the room.
2) How many cadavers will be stored in the lab? You want to avoid a room that
is cramped for space. Each cadaver table will also need a special lighting
source.
3) What courses will use this lab the most? These courses should have their
regular labs located directly adjacent to the cadaver lab if possible.
4) How will cadavers enter and leave the lab? Ideally, they should arrive and
leave at the building’s service entrance. How easy will it be to move a
cadaver from the service entrance to the cadaver lab?
5) How will the cadavers be used within the context of the course? For example,
if they will be used for testing, you need enough room for easy traffic flow of
students.
Suggestions for room design:
1) Heavy-duty, durable flooring such as epoxy painted floors. Regular vinyl
flooring is unacceptable.
2) Include a large floor drain.
3) Shower area with a garden hose to clean out cadaver tubs.
4) Wide steel doors that allow easy entry/exit for both students and cadavers.
5) Consider all OSHA requirements (e.g. an emergency shower is mandatory).
6) Free space for students to observe and work.
Suggested equipment:
1) Stainless steel cabinetry and shelves.
2) Hinged shelving around the perimeter of the room. This allows you to rest it
flat against the wall when not in use.
3) A long power strip running above the shelving. This allows you to easily use
microscopes, cast saws and other electronic equipment.
4) Foot pedal operated stainless steel sinks with gooseneck faucets.
5) Surgical lighting (or good fluorescent lighting) – one per cadaver table.
6) Cadaver tables – we used model #AN-52 from Shandon-Lipshaw
Mr. Paul Krieger
Grand Rapids Comm. Coll.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Special considerations:
1) Temperature regulation. You need an independent thermostat control if
refrigeration isn’t used.
2) Air quality regulation. You want to avoid the accumulation of moist, humid
air in the summer.
3) Ventilation. It is extremely important to get this right the first time. You need
a specially designed exhaust system that keeps formaldehyde fumes at an
acceptable level.
4) Security: key card access is very convenient. OSHA requires that the cadaver
lab not have a door that opens to a public hallway.
5) Consider traffic flow. We have three different doors to our cadaver lab. Two
directly open to our first and second semester anatomy & physiology labs
while the other opens to a common lab prep area. This design works out very
well.
Cadaver supplier:
At GRCC we get our cadavers from MSU’s Willed Body Program.
!