May 2025 On May 10, 2025, there was the opportunity to take part in a practice-oriented workshop on autopsy techniques and photo documentation at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Basel. The day was organized by Thomas Rost from the Association of Swiss Human Dissectors. The event was primarily aimed at trainees in the field of human dissection. The aim was to address more specialized preparation techniques and to deal comprehensively with the relevance and techniques of photo documentation. The course began with a theoretical part on photo documentation. A PowerPoint presentation dealt with the development of forensic photography, various camera models and technical basics such as exposure, aperture and the perspective from which photographs are taken. The importance of good documentation was discussed in detail and many positive and negative examples were shown. The theoretical part was very exciting and we were able to try out a lot of things in the next step. In the practical part, we were allowed to test the equipment ourselves. It quickly became clear how important the right camera settings and the right angle are for a usable picture. Creativity and an understanding of the subject matter were required here. Thanks to good instruction and lots of tips, the results quickly improved. We tried out a lot and looked at and discussed everything together. As the Basel Anatomy Department has provided a body donor, we were able to apply the autopsy techniques in practice. After a brief discussion of some of the special instruments, we began with the removal of intraocular fluid and vitreous humor and discussed the differences. This was followed by the opening of the corpse. In addition to standard exenteration, we practiced various techniques that are used less frequently. These included visualization of the tissue in the individual layers, dissection of the soft tissues of the neck and face, exposure of the pharynx by unilateral release of the lower jaw, removal of the oesophagus and stomach in cases of liver cirrhosis, and visualization and removal of the internal carotid artery. This was followed by the ventral opening of the spinal canal, the correct removal of the spinal cord and a discussion of the procedure for dissecting the brain with attached spinal cord. The deep leg veins were then exposed and checked for thrombi. Finally, the body was neatly and gracefully reconstructed, and we looked at the suturing technique and the beautiful reconstruction. All work steps were explained in detail. Questions were answered at all times and Mr. Rost gave many helpful tips on how to improve our work. There were also many discussions and professional exchanges. Thanks to the small group size, there was enough time for everyone to work, watch and ask questions. The workshop was very instructive, practical and well organized. We were able to take away many ideas and new impressions that we can now incorporate into our day-to-day work. All in all, it was a very successful day in a pleasant atmosphere and very nice company. Margareta Gratza