Increasing quality of anatomical education by introduction of digital imaging into documentation of topographic dissections

Knowledge of topographic anatomy is essential prerequisite for any physician to be successful in professional career. That is why we pay special attention to topographic dissections completing course of normal human anatomy at our department. Dissection procedure is subjected to relatively rigid rules demanding removal of some superficial structures during preparation of deeper layers. Thus some important structures get lost for further learning and also for final evaluation of students knowledge and manual skills. Therefore we decided to introduce digital imaging into the recording of course of preparation, the topographic relationships and unique variations. Digital acquisition of pictures through still digital camera makes possible to bypass the wet photographic process and provides instant graphic inputs for further computer processing. The image files can be further edited, printed, archived on various media and then may be used for instructional, test, evaluative, and publication purposes. Moreover, own original pictorial material is feasible to be presented at anatomy lectures. Practical results of this new approach, besides higher attractiveness and motivation impact, allow us to conclude that systematic digital acquisition of dissection pictures combined with computer processing fairly increases quality of anatomical education.