Show them what they can't see! An evaluation of the use of customized 3D printed models in head and neck anatomy

Difficulty in visualizing anatomical structures has been identified as a challenge in anatomy learning and the emergence of three-dimensional printed models (3DPMs) offers a potential solution. This study evaluated the effectiveness of 3DPMs for learning the arterial supply of the head and neck region. 184 undergraduate medical students were randomly assigned to one of four learning modalities including wet specimen, digital model, 3DPM, and textbook image. Posttest scores indicated that all four modalities supported participants' knowledge acquisition, most significantly in the wet specimen group. While the participants rated 3DPMs lower for helping correct identification of structures than wet specimens, they praised 3DPMs for their ability to demonstrate topographical relationships between the arterial supply and adjacent structures. The data further suggested that the biggest limitation of the 3DPMs was their simplicity, thus making it more difficult for users to recognize the equivalent structures on the wet specimens. It was concluded that future designs of 3DPMs will need to consider the balance between the ease of visualization of anatomical structures and the degree of complexity required for successful transfer of learning. Overall, this study presented some conflicting evidence of the favorable outcomes of 3DPMs reported in other similar studies. While effective for anatomy learning as a standalone modality, educators must identify the position 3DPM models hold relative to other modalities in the continuum of undergraduate anatomy education in order to maximize their advantages for students.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the effectiveness of three-dimensional printed models (3DPMs) in learning the arterial supply of the head and neck region. The results showed that all four learning modalities, including wet specimens, digital models, 3DPMs, and textbook images, supported participants' knowledge acquisition, with wet specimens being the most effective. While participants rated 3DPMs lower in helping with the correct identification of structures compared to wet specimens, they praised 3DPMs for their ability to demonstrate topographical relationships. The study concluded that future designs of 3DPMs should consider the balance between ease of visualization and complexity for successful learning transfer.