Anatomy is a 3-dimensional subject, which is best visualized in the teaching laboratory from cadaveric material. The aim of this project is to develop learning resources from digital photographs of high quality anatomic dissections to complement the Gross Anatomy laboratories in our medical program. Digital images of human cadaveric dissections were carefully selected to represent key concepts / structures that are tightly coupled to the learning objectives of our medical curriculum.

Photographs were imported into Adobe PhotoShop, where colour masks were overlaid to highlight certain identified structures. Adobe ImageReady was used to program rollover effects that caused the colour maps to appear only when the mouse pointer was placed over the name of the structure, or the structure itself. Colour coding permitted anatomical boundaries to be clearly delimited and avoided cluttering that would have been introduced with labels.

These HTML files were linked to the medical curriculum web site (running under WEB-CT), from where they were available to first year medical students for both pre-lab learning and post-lab review via the web to supplement the scheduled laboratories, as well as during the lab itself. Web-based, low stakes self-evaluation quizzes were developed using Adobe PhotoShop to process 200 dpi images and add alphabetical labels and arrows (3-5 per image). Using the WEB-CT quiz tools (matching style), students answer by choosing names of structures corresponding to the labeled arrows. All labeling and accompanying text was translated into French, so that the same learning resource was available to the French and English streams of our medical curriculum.

Feedback from first year students has been enthusiastic. This evaluation is ongoing, and will guide further development for the second year Anatomy laboratories of our medical curriculum. (Supported by the Teaching/Learning Grants program of the University of Ottawa).

We are developing novel learning resources for human gross anatomy. Both the approach and the specific tools will be of interest to other educators.

Max Hincke, Ph. D.
Director, Anatomy Program
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine University of Ottawa
451 Smyth Road
Ottawa, On
Canada K1H 8M5
Phone: (613) 562-5800, x8193
Fax: (613) 562-5636
Email: mhincke@uottawa.ca

CO-AUTHORS:
1. Tim Willett
2. Shannon Goodwin
3. Walter Hendelman
4. Henri Lescault
5. Youssef Wassef
6. Patrica O'Brien

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Anatomy Program
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
6) Medical Learning and Technology Office Faculty of Medicine
University of Ottawa
451 Smyth Road
Ottawa, On
Canada K1H 8M5
Email: 1. Tim Willet <twill035@uottawa.ca> 2. Shannon Goodwin <sgoodwi@uottawa.ca> 3. Dr. Walter Hendelman <whendelm@uottawa.ca> 4. Dr. Henri Lescault <lescault@uottawa.ca> 5. Dr. Youssef Wassef <ywassef@uottawa.ca> 6. Patti OBrien <pobrien@uottawa.ca>