An Overview of Traditional and Advanced Visualization Techniques Applied to Anatomical Instruction Involving Cadaveric Dissection.

Abstract

This work provides an overview of the role, basic concepts, significance, and instructional contributions of current and evolving digital visualization technologies being applied in first-year anatomy curricula. These are visualization methods that have been and are being used to support both basic science and clinical applications of gross anatomical teaching and learning to the health professions (i.e., medical, dental, physical therapy, chiropractic and nursing students). It first presents a foundation as to how this discipline has been and is being taught within the professional school environment using visualization and illustration: aspects of learning, the format of the first-year anatomy curriculum, the nature of the visual information network in support of educational excellence and newer opportunities afforded by advanced technologies placing the student at the center of the learning experience. Then, the nature of each of these new methods is presented with their individual unique characteristics, and the results that anatomy faculty running cadaveric dissection courses had with the evaluation of the new technologies.The Conclusion section lists key points found in the literature as reported. Finally, the Future Work section proposes investigations into standardizing the presentation and assessment of anatomical concepts using prominent in situ structures of viscera, their enclosures and resident compartments for more precise and reproducible measurement of then instructional effectiveness of the new techniques.