What equipment categories does a medical school anatomy lab require?

Medical school anatomy labs require: dissection tables (primary equipment), per-station accessories, lab casework and storage, handwashing sinks, cadaver transport equipment, embalming/preparation equipment (if on-site), compliance and safety equipment, and refrigerated storage if not using immersion tables.

Can medical schools finance anatomy lab equipment?

Yes. Section 179 tax deductions up to $1,250,000 apply for anatomy lab equipment. American Mortuary Equipment offers 24-hour financing approvals for qualified educational institutions.

What accessories are needed at each anatomy dissection station?

Each station needs: stainless dissecting tray with wax, stainless dissecting pan, body positioner set, anatomical chart set, anatomy model, hanging scale, instrument set, task lighting, and a sharps disposal container.

How many scrub sinks does an anatomy lab need?

Plan for one scrub sink position per 2–3 dissection stations. A triple scrub sink station serves 3–6 stations. All anatomy lab sinks should be foot-pedal operated.

Anatomy Lab Equipment Checklist for Medical Schools — Tables, Instruments, Casework & Transport

May 31, 2026 4 min read

The Complete Anatomy Lab Equipment Checklist for Medical Schools

Medical school anatomy lab procurement involves dozens of distinct equipment categories spanning furniture-scale dissection tables, precision instruments, hazardous chemical storage systems, and cadaver transport equipment. Missing a category during the planning phase leads to expensive change orders, installation delays, and lab operations problems that affect student learning from day one.

This checklist is organized by category and follows the physical sequence of the anatomy lab from donor receiving through student dissection to program wrap-up. It includes the specific products available from American Mortuary Coolers & Equipment, plus the categories where you'll need to source from other vendors. American Mortuary manufactures and ships everything in our categories factory-direct from Johnson City, Tennessee. Call 1-888-792-9315 to discuss your full equipment scope.

Category 1: Dissection Tables — The Core Equipment Decision

Primary Dissection Table Options

☐ Standard stainless steel dissection table — baseline for rotation-model programs with separate storage
☐ Covered dissection table — for semester-assignment programs, vapor and moisture control
☐ Vented covered dissection table (Model 1035-06DT-V) — for formalin programs requiring OSHA LEV compliance
☐ Adjustable height dissection table — for multi-user ergonomic accommodation and ADA compliance
☐ Adjustable height pedestal table — hydraulic adjustment, no electrical required
☐ Electric immersion dissection table — semester-length programs, cadaver stored in fixative at table
☐ Manual immersion dissection table — as above, no electrical, counterbalanced lift

Specialty Tables

☐ Instructor/demonstration dissection table (same specification as student tables)
☐ Pathology grossing station (AME Series) if gross pathology teaching is included

Category 2: Dissection Station Accessories (Per Station)

☐ Stainless steel dissecting tray with wax (Model 1035-15BWB)
☐ Stainless steel dissecting pan (Model 1035-14DP)
☐ Large plastic body positioner set
☐ Anatomical chart set (Model 1035-21CHT)
☐ Dual-sex human torso anatomy model
☐ Hanging autopsy scale (one per station or per 2 stations)
☐ Dissection instrument set (scalpel handles, blades, forceps, scissors, probe — source locally)
☐ Task lighting at each station (source locally)
☐ Sharps disposal container at each station (source locally, OSHA compliant)

Category 3: Lab Casework and Storage

☐ Custom stainless steel casework and cabinetry — perimeter wall runs, base and upper cabinets
☐ Stainless steel storage and supply cabinet — for fixative, PPE, consumables
☐ Stainless steel morgue cabinet — for specimen storage and refrigerated accessory storage
☐ Tall stainless wall cabinet with glass — for instrument and anatomy model display/storage
☐ Stainless steel work table — prep area and instructor staging
☐ Secondary containment system for chemical storage (source locally)
☐ Hazardous waste storage containers (source locally, EPA/state compliant)

Category 4: Sinks and Hand Hygiene Stations

☐ Triple stainless steel scrub sink station — 1 per 3–6 dissection stations
☐ 4-foot pedal sink station — supplementary hand hygiene position
☐ Emergency eyewash station (ANSI Z358.1 compliant — source locally)
☐ Emergency safety shower if formalin is used (ANSI Z358.1 — source locally)

Category 5: Cadaver Transport Equipment

☐ Hydraulic autopsy trolley with removable top — primary cadaver transfer vehicle
☐ Cadaver stretcher cart — alternative flat-bed transfer option
☐ Covered transport cart — dignified in-facility transport with cover
☐ Hydraulic concealed cadaver transport cart — for receiving from vehicles, height-adjustable
☐ Bariatric autopsy trolley — for programs receiving large donors
☐ Covered cadaver lift — for loading/unloading from transport containers
☐ Powered scissor lift (HD-1000-AA) — for loading dock height differential

Category 6: Embalming and Preparation Equipment (if on-site preparation)

☐ Embalming operating table with perforated top
☐ Multi-height stainless embalming and dressing table
☐ Left-hand embalming sink station or right-hand embalming sink station
☐ Autopsy/embalming station with center sink
☐ Embalming collection module
☐ Wall-mounted embalming service station
☐ Embalming machine and fluid system (source from embalming supply specialist)

Category 7: Compliance and Safety Equipment

☐ Personal dosimetry monitoring badges for formalin — arrange with industrial hygienist
☐ Direct-reading formalin monitor (if continuous monitoring specified)
☐ Respiratory protection for formalin tasks (OSHA-compliant program required)
☐ Chemical spill kits appropriate for fixatives in use
☐ Biohazard signage at all lab entries and within lab
☐ Written SOPs: fixative handling, waste disposal, spill response, PPE use
☐ Review Compliance Roadmap with EH&S before program launch

Category 8: Refrigerated Storage (if separate from immersion tables)

See the lab pathology vault coolers and cadaver storage racks collections. Plan refrigeration for peak cadaver count plus 20% buffer. Coordinate with mechanical engineer for cooler sizing, electrical, and drain requirements.

Financing and Procurement

Medical schools and universities can deduct anatomy lab equipment under Section 179 — up to $1,250,000 in the year of purchase. American Mortuary Equipment offers 24-hour financing approvals for qualified institutions. Visit our Financing page for details. For large projects, request a formal quote with itemized pricing by category for your facilities team.

Related Resources

Get a Complete Equipment Quote

American Mortuary Coolers & Equipment can quote your entire anatomy lab equipment package — every category on this checklist from our catalog — in a single itemized proposal. We provide CAD drawings, specification sheets, and installation documentation for your facilities team. Call 1-888-792-9315 or email service@mymortuarycooler.com. FREE Level 2 White-Glove Installation on qualifying orders. A+ BBB rated since 2009.