Rationale and Objectives
Radiology has been an increasingly important component of preclinical anatomy instruction since the 1960s. The global status of medical imaging pedagogies and radiologists’ roles in medical anatomy education is not well established but is important in determining the specialty’s contribution to undergraduate medical education.
Materials and Methods
PubMed was searched with various combinations of MeSH terms including “radiology,” “undergraduate medical education,” and “anatomy.” Articles were reviewed for relevance, and referenced articles of possible relevance were hand-traced to ensure a wide capture of articles.
Results
Although more medical schools around the world are using medical imaging to teach anatomy, some regions, such as the United States, show a decline in the proportion of imaging taught by radiologists. Lectures, small group discussions, and self-instruction remain the mainstay of current pedagogies and have witnessed dramatic changes over the past few decades with respect to the types of imaging used. Newer pedagogies use contextual and hands-on experiences to improve spatial and application principles. Qualitative and quantitative studies report somewhat mixed results of pedagogical efficacies but demonstrate generally high acceptance by students and instructors and often significant exam score improvement. Radiology as a specialty must overcome several challenges for it to become more involved in anatomy education, including teaching incentives and protected academic time.
Conclusions
As anatomy instruction and clinical medicine grow increasingly digital, it is ever more important that radiologists continue to develop new anatomy pedagogies and contribute to anatomy education in greater roles.
Anatomical knowledge is generally regarded as a cornerstone of undergraduate medical education . New instructional methods for anatomy are being developed in response to new national guidelines , concerns of inadequate anatomy retention in house staff , and improved technology . Radiological teaching interventions in medical anatomy courses have been a central part of curricular development since the late 1960s and have grown considerably in use and complexity .
The changing role of radiologists in preclinical anatomy education is critical to the development of future physicians in all medical fields as the number of anatomist course directors decreases, less course time is devoted to human anatomy, and medical imaging is increasingly used in almost every specialty . This article critically reviews the presence of medical imaging and radiologists in medical anatomy education.
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Status of radiology in anatomy
Historical Incorporation of Radiology in Anatomy Courses
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The Presence of Radiologists in Gross Anatomy Instruction
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Instructional methods
Instructional Methods
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Table 1
Radiological Anatomy Instructional Methods Utilized in Medical Anatomy Courses
Pedagogical Approach Specific Techniques Lecture In conjunction with or after gross anatomy course
Student involvement by pointing out structures for the class Self-instruction Access to radiology atlases
Structured guidance through medical and illustrated images
Labeled images to review before lecture discussion Imaging in dissection room “Team radiologist” student volunteer at each dissection table Cadaver imaging Image displays in dissection room
Virtual dissection 3-dimension to 2-dimension correlation Prosected cadaveric and radiological structure correlation
Cross sections of cadaver and axial imaging correlation
Clay model and axial imaging correlation
Standard anatomy models and imaging correlation
Ultrasound of living models to demonstrate surface anatomy Virtual dissection Course supplement Primary dissection method Vertical curriculum Normal radiology and anatomical models during clinical rotations
High-fidelity case simulation that highlights relevant anatomy
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Cost and Benefit
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Future role for radiologists and medical imaging
Radiology in the Future of Anatomy Instruction
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Challenges
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Conclusions
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Acknowledgments
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Appendix
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Appendix A
Free Radiological Anatomy Resources for Medical Anatomy Courses. ∗
Resource Type Source Teaching Images RSNA Teaching File System (RSNA 2012. http://www.rsna.org/informatics/mirc.cfm ) Web Watch: Radiographic Anatomy on the Web ( Radiography 10(4), 293-298) MedPix (Uniformed Services University 2012. http://rad.usuhs.edu/medpix/index.html ) How to Create Materials Building Virtual Models by Postprocessing Radiology Images: A Guide for Anatomy Faculty ( Anatomical Sciences Education 3(5), 261-266.) Transforming Clinical Imaging Data for Virtual Reality Learning Objects ( Anatomical Sciences Education 1(2), 50-55.) Creating Radiology Line Art with Photoshop Tools and Filters ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2011. www.mededportal.org/publication/8296 ) Image Processing and Analysis in Java. NIH 2010. http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/ ) Image Tutorials Angiographic Anatomy of Abdomenopelvic Organs ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2011. www.mededportal.org/publication/8375 ) Angiographic Anatomy of Thoracic Organs ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2011. www.mededportal.org/publication/8373 ) Neuronline ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2011. www.mededportal.org/publication/8266 ) Radiological Anatomy of the Extremities and Back ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2010. www.mededportal.org/publication/7760 ) Sectional and Radiological Anatomy of the Thorax ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2008. www.mededportal.org/publication/1707 ) Introductory Head & Neck Radiology for Preclinical Learners ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2008. www.mededportal.org/publication/1566 ) Imaging of the Heart ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2006. www.mededportal.org/publication/4 ) Hepatic Arterial Buffer Response on Cross-Sectional Imaging ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2010. www.mededportal.org/publication/8064 ) Pediatric Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses: A Digital Interactive Teaching File of Normal Anatomy, Variants, and Disease ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2009. www.mededportal.org/publication/1768 ) Sectional Anatomy of the Abdomen and Pelvis ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2009. www.mededportal.org/publication/5094 ) Radiological Images of the Abdomen and Pelvis ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2009. www.mededportal.org/publication/1708 ) Interactive Digital CT Atlas of the Pediatric Cervical Spine ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2009. www.mededportal.org/publication/1769 ) Chest Radiology Tutorial ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2007. www.mededportal.org/publication/796 ) Imaging of the Shoulder with Emphasis on MRI: A Teaching File ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2010. www.mededportal.org/publication/8236 ) Cases The Case of the Dark Dot ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2011. www.mededportal.org/publication/8385 ) Bilious Emesis in a Neonate ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2009. www.mededportal.org/publication/1698 ) An Emergency Department Patient with a Knee Dislocation ( MedEdPORTAL ; 2007. www.mededportal.org/publication/588 )
RSNA, Radiological Society of North America; NIH, National Institute of Health.
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