Anatomy laboratories can provide rich opportunities for outreach to K-12 and college students interested in pursuing careers in health, medicine, or science. At the University of Missouri, the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences has designed flexible, one-hour interactive sessions that typically cover basic anatomical concepts using…

To date, neuroanatomy education courses are still based on two-dimensional (2D) illustrations combined with cadaver dissections. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of neuroanatomy, we offered mixed reality experience using a head-mounted device (HMD) for medical students during their neuroanatomy course. This pilot study´s purpose was to…

Gross anatomy courses utilize cadaver dissection to teach identification, topography, and spatial relationships of organs. The deconstructive nature of dissection, however, focuses students' attention on the "big picture", followed by a discovery of details. This approach may be useful for many, however some students may prefer to…

Incorporating inclusive language in healthcare education allows learners to develop holistic communication skills. Adhering to principles of linguistic equity in healthcare, specific to sex- and gender-inclusive language (SGIL), creates a safe environment for all participants. Anatomy education introduces students to a standard, consistent…

The increasing adoption of advanced simulation technologies (virtual reality, augmented reality, sophisticated mannequins) in anatomical science education offers undeniable pedagogical advantages, including safe practice environments and enhanced visualization of complex structures. This article explores the simulation paradox, arguing that the…

Formative assessment is a type of low-stakes assessment that can help reduce student anxiety and encourage students to engage in the course regularly. Formative assessment can also help instructors identify knowledge gaps. Students who had completed the first semester of a two-semester sophomore-level anatomy and physiology sequence were surveyed…

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of interactive Mixed Reality (MR) learning and compare it to traditional methods for independently learning inner ear anatomy through two experiments. The evaluation was conducted using HoloInnerEar, our new interactive MR tool for inner ear anatomy learning. In the first controlled…

A deep understanding of pelvic floor anatomy requires a three-dimensional visualization of the spatial relationships among pelvic neurovasculature, soft tissue structures, and bony landmarks, which are highly complex and difficult to comprehend solely through traditional teaching methods such as didactic lectures and anatomical dissection. This…

Health science represents the fastest-growing industry in the United States, a trend not predicted to slow for the next decade. The high demand for health professionals is seen with courses in Anatomy and Physiology (A&P), which often have high enrollments, high diversity, and require active pedagogies, hands-on learning, diverse study…

Dissection of human body donors is a valuable part of anatomical education, research, and clinical training. In the United States, deceased human bodies are predominantly sourced through whole-body donation programs (BDPs) housed by academic institutions. Due to the lack of information regarding BDPs, the aim of this study was to gather…

Surface anatomy is an important skill for students in preparation for patient care, and peer examination is often used to teach musculoskeletal and surface anatomy. An alternative pedagogical approach is to use bodies represented in artworks. Represented bodies display fictive anatomy, providing students with the opportunity to apply their…

Human anatomy requires understanding spatial relationships among anatomical structures and is often perceived as difficult to learn by students. To overcome this concern, several digital tools exist with some strengths and limitations among which the lack of interactivity especially for complex functional anatomy learning. In this way, a new…

Choreographed encounters with death in Copenhagen Zoo, such as school and public dissections, emphasize the importance of touch and are underpinned by the moral imperative to understand the nature of life and death. Such encounters are framed by zoo educators as contributing to a deeper environmental awareness. Taking the role of dead animals in…

Mastering the complexity of the nervous system is essential for education programs in physiology, anatomy, and neuroscience. Students often struggle when learning somatosensory pathways, which convey information from sensory neurons to the somatosensory cortex in the brain. Active learning activities incorporating physical models have been shown…

Researchers have long been interested in understanding how different learning approaches impact learning outcomes. Learning approaches are often conceptualized as a dichotomy of superficial and deep, and learning outcomes are typically viewed on a cognitive scale that ranges from lower- to higher-order. While there appears to be an inherent…