Abstract
Objectives: To describe the implementation of the principle of inseparability between teaching, research and extension in higher education. Methods: This is an integrative literature review study. The selection of bibliographic material for this study took place from January to March 2019, in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) database, which includes the databases LILACS - BIREME (Latin American Science Databases). Health) and Scielo - Scientific Electronic Library Online. The descriptors were found in Descriptors in Health Sciences (DeCS), Higher Education, Community Extension and Research. Results: The studies analyzed recognize that the principle's function is to base university education, based on the integration of the three pillars of higher education, in order to train increasingly qualified professionals, combining theory with practice, scientific knowledge and empirical. University practice based on this assumption implies the recognition that teacher education must occur in conjunction with the experience of reality, based on a relationship between theory and practice. Conclusion: However, studies show that this integration does not occur effectively, with the predominance of teaching in universities, without articulation with research and extension.