An efficient approach to teaching the anatomy of the middle ear cavity to first year medical students using digital images of prosected cadavers

Abstract

Dissection of the middle ear cavity is challenging and time consuming, often resulting in a frustrating learning experience for students. Consequently, courses in gross anatomy may omit dissection of the middle ear, or revert to dissections on decalcified temporal bones, or rely on time consuming, faculty‐prepared prosections. At our school, we have developed an efficient laboratory experience to teach middle ear anatomy using faculty‐prepared prosections and digital imaging. Prosections are done in 15–20 minutes using a quick dissection technique (Anat. Rec. 181:685, 1975) that involves fracturing through the petrous part of the temporal bone. Thus, multiple specimens can be prepared in a short time. This exposure reveals the malleus and incus, the geniculate ganglion and course of the facial nerve, the chorda tympani and greater petrosal nerves, the tensor tympani, the tympanic membrane, the opening of the auditory tube, and the mastoid area. High resolution photos, taken using a macro lens on a digital camera, are enhanced, colorized, and labeled using Photoshop. Color prints (8” × 11”) are placed adjacent to the prosections so students can study the specimens without faculty assistance. This approach is curriculum friendly since it does not require additional lab time as students can exam the middle ear prosections during other scheduled labs. Our approach has proved successful for teaching clinically relevant anatomy of the middle ear in an effective, efficiently manner with neither students nor faculty spending large amounts of time in the laboratory setting.