Specimen orientation tags and dispenser

An apparatus for anatomically orienting a plurality of tissue specimens, comprising a sterilizable dispenser for carrying and selectably dispensing a plurality of pre-labeled biologically inert, sterilizable, radio-opaque or radiolucent specimen orientation tags, said dispenser comprising a vessel separable along its equatorial perimeter into an inferior base segment and an opposing superior cover segment, which base segment and opposing cover segment enclose a sterilizable dispensing ring around which said a plurality of pre-labeled specimen orientation tag is disposed in a plurality of dispensing bays;

• said superior cover segment including a plurality of superior arcs along its equatorial perimeter and said inferior base segment including a plurality of corresponding inferior arcs along its equatorial perimeter, said superior and inferior arcs forming a plurality of generally elliptical apertures through which said specimen orientation tag is accessed.