Gross Cross‐Sectional Anatomy as a Tool to Develop Imaging Proficiency in Medical Students

Abstract

Many first‐year medical students find imaging studies to be an abstract and difficult topic to learn. Understanding and interpreting imaging studies such as Magnetic Resonance (MR), Computed Tomography (CT) and ultrasound requires proficient knowledge of cross‐sectional anatomy of the human body. Our study aims to evaluate the use of an online module, which utilizes cadaveric gross cross‐sectional anatomical photographs of the thigh and correlates such viewpoints with the respective MR, CT and ultrasound images. Medical students at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine were given access to the online module. We designed this module to consist of a pre‐module quiz, the module itself, and a post‐module quiz. The module contains cadaveric cross‐sectional photos of the thigh at three different levels as well as corresponding imaging studies of the thigh. Each eight‐question pre‐module and post‐module quiz contains two MR, two CT, two ultrasound, and two cross‐sectional anatomy questions. Comparison of students’ pre‐ and post‐ module scores as well as student scores on exam questions relevant to the module content will be used to evaluate whether the module has successfully aided students in learning the various imaging modalities. A survey will be sent to students to seek their feedback on the module in order to improve it for future medical students. This research uses a novel approach by correlating anatomical photographs with the imaging modalities; other studies exclude the ultrasound or use of clay models rather than imaging. Medical students have received the online module, and we are awaiting the results of this study, which could contribute to the future of medical education and the ease of learning MR, CT, and ultrasound via cross‐sectional anatomy.