Presented By: Halie Kerver, Michigan State University Colleges of Osteopathic and Human Medicine
Co-Authors: Danielle Keller, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Cody Lee, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Purpose
Teaching neuroanatomy through the lens of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sets medical students up for success. Many MRI learning resources currently available lack interactive and user-friendly functionality, require payment, or contain an overabundance of labeled structures. A free, user-friendly MRI atlas is needed, focusing on foundational structures for early medical students and allowing users to highlight single structures across multiple planes simultaneously.
Methods
We created a web-based interactive atlas of neuroanatomical structures in MRI geared toward early medical education. The atlas, called Spartan Anatomy, is free, public facing, and serves as a supplemental resource for students to familiarize themselves with brain structures in MRI as they concordantly learn the clinical correlates of those structures in class. The website has a built-in quiz function as well. We asked participants to interact with the website for an undetermined amount of time and surveyed their perceptions of this new resource.
Results
41 students completed the survey, with most respondents being pre-med or first and second year medical students. Their perceptions of Spartan Anatomy were overwhelmingly positive, with free response answers citing the website's ease of use and ability to highlight brain structures in multiple views/planes simultaneously. Students also liked having the ability to highlight the entirety of a brain structure, which helped them comprehend the size, shape, and borders of a particular structure. Students also offered great suggestions for improvement, including providing instant feedback on the quiz function and including a structure list within the atlas.
Conclusion
Spartan Anatomy will be a beneficial resource for early medical education and is now publicly available for use. We have plans to improve and expand the website to include more features and atlases.