History of the Department

The sixth South African medical school opened its doors on 6 June 1969 at the University of the Free State (UFS), Bloemfontein, South Africa. Prof Jan Toerien was appointed as the first head of the Department of Anatomy in 1971. In 1977 the Anatomy Museum was named after him and is known today as the Jan Toerien Museum.

The museum boasts an array of embalmed specimens, osteology material and plastinated specimens for the use as study aids for students and faculty. Plastination of specimens is a relatively new and unique teaching aid that has the durability of anatomical models and exhibits accurate anatomical structures whilst also showing the variation found in all biological specimens.

The following field-specific training in Anatomy and Cell Morphology is currently offered:  applied and comparative anatomy, biological anthropology, embryology and histology. 

A poster depicting the history of the department can be viewed in the Medikeion, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State.