Approaches to Learning Anatomy

We’ve all been there..slugging our way through a Greys anatomy textbook trying to learn crucial anatomy for that upcoming exam or sifting through thousands of QBanks for high-yield questions.

Over the years, we’ve become increasingly interested in medical and surgical education and therefore developed a prize-winning virtual neuroanatomy platform in 2022. From that project, we were able to gain some very useful insights about different types of learners and how this impacts retention. Below, we have listed some useful approaches to learning and understanding anatomy:

1. Active learning: This approach involves engaging in activities that require the application of anatomical knowledge. Examples include dissection, case-based learning, and team-based learning ¹.
2. Visual aids: Using visual aids such as diagrams, models, and videos can help learners understand complex anatomical structures and their functions ².
3. Technology: Technology can be used to enhance the learning experience. For example, virtual reality can provide a 3D view of anatomical structures, and online resources such as interactive quizzes and games can help reinforce learning ²¹.
4. Collaboration: Collaborating with peers can help learners gain a deeper understanding of anatomical concepts. Group discussions, peer teaching, and problem-based learning are some examples of collaborative learning approaches ¹.

This is not an exhaustive list. If you`d like to learn more about our work on approaches to anatomy then keep an eye out for our upcoming publication.