Revolutionizing Competency: How virtual dissection tables can enhance skill acquisition in anatomy education

Competency, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is the possession of sufficient knowledge or skill. A physician’s effectiveness is largely determined by their skill set. Recognizing this, the National Medical Commission of India introduced the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum in 2019. Since then, medical educators across the country have been working to effectively integrate the core tenets of CBME into practice.

Anatomy, a fundamental aspect of medical education, is crucial for diagnosing conditions, performing surgical procedures, conducting radiological examinations, and physically examining patients. Friedrich Tiedmann aptly noted that:

 "Doctors without anatomy are like moles. They work in the dark and the work of their hands are mounds." 

Despite its critical importance, anatomy education has historically relied on dissection of human cadavers or textbooks. However, studies have highlighted a decline in undergraduate knowledge and skills in this field, with traditional methods struggling to evolve in response to modern educational needs.

With the advent of CBME, skill acquisition has become a priority. Competent anatomists must not only possess knowledge but also demonstrate manual dexterity, spatial reasoning, and effective dissection skills. Acquiring these skills requires ample practice, which is increasingly challenging due to cadaver shortages and growing student populations.

This has led to a shift towards integrating digital innovations with traditional pedagogy. One notable example is the Virtual Dissection Table (VDT). A VDT is a life-sized table with interactive display of digital human anatomy, allowing students to visualize and dissect accurate digital models of male, female, pediatric, and geriatric cadavers. The entire anatomy is presented volumetrically, from head to toe, with detailed, segmented, and annotated structures.

Image: The first virtual dissection table to be made in India

Students can interact with these digital models through touch gestures, rotating bodies, performing incisions, peeling away layers, and exploring intricate anatomical details. This technology enables limitless practice without the risk of damaging cadavers, aligning with CBME’s emphasis on simulated or guided skill acquisition environments.

Many institutions worldwide have adopted VDTs as integral components of their anatomy curricula. Prominent examples include Anatomage, Cadaviz, Asclepius, Pirogov, and Onew-902. Integrating VDTs into anatomy education provides students with the opportunity to develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods.