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Many students regard neuroanatomy as a terrifying subject due to the complicated neuronal connections. Purpose of this research was to promote the easy and logical learning of neuroanatomy by systematizing a rule "three neurons of afferent nerves." The rule, in which the second neuron decussates and reaches the thalamus, was applied to as many structures as possible. The three neurons are drawn in a constant pattern to intuitively demonstrate the rule. The rule could be applied not only to the spinothalamic tract, medial lemniscus pathway, sensory cranial nerves (visual pathway, trigeminothalamic tract, taste pathway, and auditory pathway) and ascending reticular activating system, but also to the pontocerebellum (afferent to cerebrum), basal nuclei (direct pathway), and limbic system (medial limbic circuit). Exceptionally, some afferent nerves do not exactly follow the suggested rule. This simple rule, which corresponds to many pathways of the neuroanatomy, is expected to make the learning by novice students easier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Southern Medical University, China, 1,200 medical students study neuroanatomy every year, whereas in Ajou University, Korea, only 45 medical students study neuroanatomy. The considerable difference of student numbers results in differences in educational situations. The purpose of this study was to investigate desirable neuroanatomy education methods for large and small numbers of students. The situations of neuroanatomy education in China and Korea were compared systematically. With a questionnaire survey, positive comments and recommendations for their counterparts were collected from the medical students (168 Chinese and 41 Koreans) and anatomists (6 Chinese and 3 Koreans). By reviewing the opinions, the Chinese and Korean anatomists could learn from each other to improve their strong points and make up for the weak points. The results also disclosed the common problems of neuroanatomy education, which could be relieved by developing the fitting book and the self-learning tools, such as lecture videos and stereoscopic computer models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was intended to evaluate the anatomy comics as learning material for adolescents. For that, both the learning comics and comic strips were shown to 341 junior high school students who subsequently completed a questionnaire. According to the students answers, the anatomy comics were greatly or somewhat helpful in understanding anatomy (learning comics: 87.7 %; comic strips: 86.2 %). The anatomy comics were greatly or somewhat entertaining (learning comics: 66.9 %; comic strips: 77.4 %). According to their free remarks, the anatomy comics enhanced the students' understanding with the simple figures and easy explanations. The students regarded the anatomy comics as entertaining because of the related jokes and comparative daily lives. The students preferred the complimentary anatomy comics presented on the authors' homepage (anatomy.co.kr). This investigation proves the possibility that the anatomy comics contribute to adolescents learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sectional anatomy of a cat head is essential when interpreting CTs and MRIs of the region. In learning the sectional anatomy, sectioned images of a cat could be quite effective data. The main objective was to assist veterinary physicians who learn the sectional anatomy of a cat head by presenting high-quality sectioned images. A short-haired female cat was frozen and sectioned frontally using a cryomacrotome. Every sectioned surface in real body color was photographed with a digital camera. The frontal planes were stacked to produce dorsal and sagittal planes. High-quality sectioned images of a cat head allowed the identification of small, complicated structures. The notable structures were as follows: each bone of the cranium, structures of the brain, tympanic cavity (larger than human), oval window (larger than human), vestibular nerve, cochlear nerve, ear ossicles, six extraocular muscles, pupil (larger than human), retractor bulbi muscle (not found in human), optic nerve, olfactory bulb (considerably large), vomeronasal organ duct (not found in human), infraorbital gland (not found in human), masticatory muscles (larger than human), maxillary nerve (larger than human), and mandibular nerve. This pacesetting report describes the detailed head structures of a cat from the viewpoint of sectional anatomy. The sectioned images will be given to other interested researchers free of charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to enable anyone to learn the sectional anatomy of the head anywhere, anytime by presenting software to browse sectioned images on a Google Android mobile device. Among the 2,343 sectioned images at 0.1 mm intervals, 234 sectioned images at 1 mm intervals were chosen. The corresponding 234 segmented images containing 236 head structures were selected. The software of the mobile version was programmed and debugged in the Java programming language. The folders of the sectioned images and segmented images and the txt file of the segmentation data were arranged in the source code of the software. The software was distributed free of charge at the homepage (neuroanatomy.kr) and Google Play Store. After installing the software, the sectioned images and corresponding segmented images could be browsed by touching and swiping the screen. In the medical category of the Google Play Store, the software earned a good reputation. The software of the Android mobile version was usable regardless of the time and place. The software is under the authors' non-commercial policy. Other investigators may modify the mobile software to browse their own images. The mobile version of the software will aid medical students and doctors in learning sectional anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to help the general population learn basic anatomy by providing easy and intriguing comics and Visible Korean movies. Eight significant systems (skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, urinary, genital, cardiovascular, and nervous systems) were explained by the anatomy learning comics. The learning comics were accompanied by humorous comic strips that introduce various episodes about anatomy. The individual systems were also elucidated by videos of surface models and sectioned images that were made from the cadavers. These videos also include annotations and commentaries aiding anatomy comprehension like the documentary films. For users to conveniently access the wanted contents, software with a simple menu was developed. This free software is operable directly on the homepage (anatomy.co.kr); otherwise, the software is downloadable from the same site to be run offline. The combined use of multimedia contents will hopefully promote the general population's interest in and knowledge of anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosing and treating stomach diseases requires as many of the related anatomy details as possible. The objective of this study based on the sectioned images of cadaver was to offer interested clinicians anatomical knowledge about the stomach and its neighbors from the new viewpoint. For the raw data, sectioned images of a male cadaver without stomach pathology were used. By manual segmentation and automatic interpolation, a high-quality volume model of the stomach was reconstructed. The model was continuously peeled and piled to synthetically reveal the inside and outside of the stomach. The anterior, posterior, right, and left views of the models were compared with a chosen sectioned image. The numerous stomach images were then put into user-friendly browsing software. Some advantages of this study are that the sectioned images reveal real stomach color with high resolution; the peeled and piled volume models result in new features of the stomach and surroundings; and the processed models can be conveniently browsed in the presented software. These image data and tutorial software are expected to be helpful in acquiring supplementary morphologic information on the stomach and related structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to produce pictures of the knees from an embalmed cadaver and another fresh cadaver with various levels of dissection, flexion, and rotation, consequently to aid medical students and doctors in studying knee anatomy. In this study, we intended to improve the accessibility of the numerous knee photographs, by entering them into our own made browsing software. This software could be downloaded for free from the website (anatomy.co.kr). In the software, a displayed array consisted of four pictures: a knee at three different depths of dissection and the same knee in flexed state. The knee could be rotated interactively at every 5° angle. Annotation of important knee structures could be seen at 90° angle intervals. With the browsing software, users were able to observe detailed and realistic features of the dissected and flexed knees. Furthermore, the comparison of embalmed and fresh knees enhanced understanding of the genuine appearance of the knee. The software and extractable image data can be used as anatomy education materials for various purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to introduce the complementary relationship between virtual dissection table (simply, table) and free software, since authors tried to aid interested people in their studying digital human anatomy. Visible Korean (VK) team had presented the serially sectioned images and outlined images of a male cadaver. Thereafter, Anatomage (San Jose, CA) manufactured the table by making 3-dimensional (3D) volume models from the data. Separately, the VK team reconstructed surface models from the same data and inputted the models in portable document format (PDF) file, which can be opened on the personal computer. The software to browse the sectioned and outlined images was also programmed by VK team. In this report, the table and the VK free software were compared to establish their supplementary potentiality. Both the table and free software displayed equivalent 3D models reconstructed from the same sectioned images. In both platforms, the models were labeled for users to recognize the individual structures. Both the table and the free software had respective features to enhance the virtual dissecting experience. The table came with its designated hardware with life-sized display, whereas VK software could be run in any personal computer without burden. The coexistence of the table and free software will enrich the people learning anatomy. With increasing VK data and free software, more and more commercial or complimentary products are expected to be produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For students in schools of nursing, health sciences, and premed, a systemic anatomy textbook with minimized contents, schematics, and mnemonics may be helpful for learning an otherwise often unappealing subject. In this study, we assess the educational effect of such a textbook. Schematic drawings, anatomy comics, and easily readable text were generated for the chapters of the book (e.g., skeletal system, articular system). The book was presented without charge via a webpage (anatomy.co.kr). Nursing students who were exposed to the book and those who were not exposed were compared; a survey was administered to those who were exposed. The students who read the presented textbook were more knowledgeable than those who used other textbooks. Hours spent reading the presented textbook and scores of fill-in-the-blank questions were positively correlated. In general, the students replied that the presented textbook was helpful for learning systemic anatomy. The systemic anatomy textbook accompanies preexisting textbooks in regional anatomy, neuroanatomy, and the histology, all of which are written by the same authors. We suggest anatomy instructors generate their own books with unique style to enrich the student learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous students perceive neuroanatomy as a particularly difficult subject due to its overwhelming complexity. Therefore, a neuroanatomy book that concentrates on easy-to-read stories with schematics rather than exhaustive details has been published. This study evaluates the effect of a trial of the new neuroanatomy book on student learning. From the book, a printout on the brainstem and cranial nerve was extracted. Medical students read the printout, and subsequently were examined on their knowledge of and interest in neuroanatomy. Students who read the extract answered examination questions relatively well and were more interested in neuroanatomy. The printout seemed to enhance the knowledge and concentration of the students. After grasping the fundamental information in the book, students are expected to be able to learn advanced concepts comfortably and confidently. In addition, the book with its concise and simple content is suitable not only for shortduration neuroanatomy courses but also for self-learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has forced anatomists to perform non-face-to-face education using lecture videos. A Korean anatomist has given (white and black) board lectures and distributed lecture videos to the public for many years. This study was to verify the effects of open board lecture videos in the anatomy field. A questionnaire survey was carried out with the help of medical students who were exposed to the board lecture videos. The video provider uploaded the lecture videos on YouTube, where the viewing numbers were counted. At a medical school where the video provider belonged, the students mainly watched the lecture videos before the anatomy class. The watching hours of the lecture videos were related to the written examination scores. Students gave positive and negative comments on the board lectures. At the other two medical schools, students partly watched the lecture videos regardless of the teacher who delivered the lectures. The results suggested that students understood the board lectures themselves. On YouTube, the lecture videos were viewed by approximately 1,000 students. This paper introduces the desirable aspects of open board lecture videos on anatomy. The videos could enhance the quality of both students and teacher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]