8 October 2026
"Last year we had a largest attendance yet and we can’t wait for this year’s event"
Last year’s World Anatomy Day event at The Fire Station
In celebration of World Anatomy Day, the University of Sunderland alongside Teesside and Durham universities is hosting a fun-filled anatomy event the whole family can enjoy.
Marking its fourth year, the free event at The Fire Station in Sunderland on Sunday 18 October will feature an array of new hands-on activities as well as stage shows on how the world of anatomy works – this year’s theme is movement.
The stage activities include:
- Anatomy of a Mythical Creature – a draw-along activity where participants discuss the anatomy of their imagined mythical creature.
- Animal Olympics – who would win the different events and why.
- Learning Bods – I Like to Move It, Move It!: Exploring how the body moves.
The station activities include:
- Pin the Organ on your grown up – Guess where the organs are.
- Funny Feet – Explore how your feet move and adapt to the ground below them.
- Balance your Body –Discover how many muscles in your body help you to balance.
- Marvellous Muscles –Measure your own muscle strength and stretch your muscles.
- Restart a heart – Learn about the heart, CPR and how it moves blood around your body.
- Birth and Babies: Learn which powerful muscles help to deliver a baby.
- Find the Anatomical Treasure – Hunt for anatomy using a medical imaging simulator.
- The Occupational Brain: Make a Brain Hat and use sensory equipment to understand how we perceive the world around us.
- Eye Spy Muscles: Discover the six tiny muscles work together to move each of your eyes.
- Digestive System: How Your Digestive System moves food and makes waste.
- Anatomy of a Smile – Explore some giant teeth.
- Indiana Bones – Examine the bones and teeth of other creatures with an archaeologist.
Professor of Anatomy at the University of Sunderland’s School of Medicine, Debs Patten, said: “This event is so important to us, we love sharing our knowledge and getting everyone excited about anatomy.
“Last year we had a largest attendance yet and we can’t wait for this year’s event – we change it up a little every year to make sure our regular attendees have a different experience.”
World Anatomy Day honours the work of Andreas Vesalius the father of anatomy and marks the anniversary of his death on 15 October 1564. The day is an occasion to celebrate the discipline of anatomy and to make countries around the world aware of its important role in training health science professionals.
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