Development and application of digital assistive teaching system for anatomy

Abstract

BackgroundAnatomy is a required course for all medicine-related industries. In recent decades, the teaching quality and effect of anatomy have been compromised by factors including a decrease in human body specimens, dampened enthusiasm for the discipline, reduced teaching hours of anatomy, scale expansion of medical education, and obstacles in performing field autopsies and observations. MethodsBased on China's digitalized visible human research achievements, this article extracts the boundary information of anatomic structures from tomographic images, constructs threedimensional (3D) digital anatomical models with authentic texture information, and develops an anatomy assistive teaching system for teachers and students based on the knowledge points of anatomy, to meet the anatomy teaching requirements of different majors at various levels. ResultsThis scientific, complete, and holistic system has produced over 6000 3D digital anatomical models, 5000 anatomy knowledge points, 50 anatomical operation videos, and 150 micro demonstration classes, with teaching contents for different majors and levels, such as systematic anatomy, topographic anatomy, sectional anatomy, anatomy of motion, and virtual anatomical operation table. Ranging from network terminals, desktops, touchscreen 3D displays, desktops, and projection 3D volumetric displays to augmented reality, its diversified interactive forms meet the requirements for a learning environment in different settings. ConclusionsWith multiple teaching and learning links covered, such as teaching environment, teaching resources, instructional slides, autonomous learning, and learning effect evaluation, this novel teaching system serves as a vital component and a necessary resource in anatomy teaching and functions as an important supplement to traditional anatomy teaching. Applied and promoted in most medical colleges and schools in China, this system has been recognized and approved by anatomy teachers and students, and plays a positive role in guaranteeing the effect and quality of anatomy teaching.