European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 16 - Number 3
Eur J Anat, 16 (3): 199-205 (2012)

The additive effect of teaching undergraduate cardiac anatomy using cadavers and ultrasound echocardiography

Gabrielle M. Finn1, Marina A. Sawdon1, Michael J. Griksaitis1,2

1School of Medicine and Health, Durham University (Queenâ??s Campus) Thornaby-on-Tees, United Kingdom, TS17 6BH 2Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Southampton University Hospital Trust, United Kingdom, SO16 6YD

ABSTRACT Ultrasound and cadavers are both recognized teaching modalities for the delivery of cardiac anatomy to undergraduate medical students. This study considers the additive effect of the two teaching modalities. We previously reported no significant difference in cardiac anatomy knowledge when taught using either ultrasound echocardiography or cadaveric prosections, both modalities significantly increasing knowledge from baseline. This study considers the cross-over effect with the ultrasound group receiving anatomy teaching with cadavers and vice versa. The results of this study show a small increase in knowledge after experiencing two modalities, but this increase was not significant. Furthermore, the order in which students received their tuition also made no significant difference. These data suggests there is no additive effect of combining cadaveric prosections with ultrasound. This has implications for curriculum design. However, these findings do not consider the hidden learning and learning experiences students will receive by two vastly different teaching modalities.

Keywords: Anatomy Education, Ultrasound, Echocardiography, Prosections, Cardiac

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)