USE OF THREE DIMENSIONAL (3D) PRINTED MODELS OF SHEEP BRAIN IN ONLINE VETERINARY ANATOMY EDUCATION

Abstract

Three dimensional (3D) printing technology in veterinary anatomy education is an evolving area providing accurately, rapidly, and reproducibly anatomical specimens. In this study, 3D printed sheep brain models were produced using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning, and their effectiveness was compared with cadaveric materials by creating three groups from undergraduate veterinary students. The study was performed when veterinary anatomy lectures in Erciyes University were carried out via live fully online learning platforms in virtual classes like many other universities in the world due the Covid-19 pandemic. Participants were subjected to an approximately 30 minute online lecture on the external and internal anatomy of the sheep brain using cadaveric materials only (n=21, Group 1), 3D printed models only (n=20, Group 2), or a combination of cadaveric materials and 3D printed models (n=20, Group 3) as teaching aids. Online post-tests carried out following the online lectures showed no statistically significant difference between the scores of the groups. Furthermore, online questionnaires conducted after the post-tests demonstrated that 3D printed models helped students learn about sheep brain anatomy. The finding of this study suggests that 3D printed models can be considered as a supplement teaching resource to cadaveric materials in veterinary anatomy education particularly when students are supposed to learn more in a limited time regardless of whether or not the Covid-19 pandemic might end.