This invention relates to a method for generating a virtual anatomic environment for use in minimally invasive surgery simulation, comprising the steps of: incorporating a main virtual anatomic environment (1); selecting a local anatomic environment (2) from a predefined library (3) comprising a set of two or more simulated local anatomic environments (2); including the selected local anatomic environment (2) in said main anatomic environment (1) to form a total virtual anatomic environment (4). The invention also relates to a device for generating a virtual anatomic environment for use in minimally invasive surgery simulation, as well as a computer-based minimal-invasive surgery simulation system comprising such a device.