Integration of 3D/4D Ultrasound in Teaching Medical Anatomy

Abstract

Addition of interactive imaging modalities such as ultrasound within the teaching of anatomy may help facilitate student learning. Appreciating the stereostructural relationships (the particular spatial configurations) of the human body in 3D enables one to navigate cross sectional imaging anatomy. 3D/4D ultrasound imaging has been used successfully in the clinical arena, though the use within anatomical education in preclinical years of medical school has not been reported. This study aimed to gauge student perceptions on the value of supplementing a medical anatomy course with hands-on 3D/4D ultrasound imaging. First year medical students currently enrolled in medical anatomy had dissection laboratory sessions supplemented with 3D/4D ultrasound training to help assimilate their anatomical knowledge with clinical imaging. Prior to the training and after, students completed surveys utilizing Likert scale and write-in responses to gauge their experience with 3D/4D ultrasound imaging. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t test. After training with 3D/4D ultrasound, students reported feeling comfortable performing and teaching 3D ultrasound imaging (4.06/5 and 3.9/5 respectively, with 5 translating to strongly agree). Additionally, students reported 3D/4D ultrasound allowed for better understanding of the relationship between structures within the human body (4.24/5), 3D/4D ultrasound is a useful instrument in learning anatomy (4.49/5), and that they would like to have further training with 3D/4D ultrasound in future courses (4.64/5). Students demonstrated proficiency in identifying organs and surrounding structures using 3D/4D ultrasonography and agreed that inclusion of 3D/4D ultrasonography within the anatomy course helped facilitate their learning of anatomy. This pilot study revealed student perception that 3D/4D ultrasound integration into the anatomy laboratory allows for an improved understanding of the relationship of structures within the human body.