Electronic resources for surgical anatomy

Numerous electronic resources are now available to assist students studying anatomy in medicine, dentistry and allied health sciences. Few studies have evaluated these in detail, and there is little guidance as to which are most suitable for the surgical trainee. The aim of this review was to determine which of the currently available electronic resources are most suitable for learning surgically relevant anatomy.

A structured review was undertaken, beginning with an initial Internet search. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were developed and applied. The selected sites were analysed in detail using a specifically designed survey matrix focusing on background data, content, interactive self-evaluation features, and surgical relevance.

The initial Internet search identified more than 100 anatomical websites of potential relevance. Of these, 19 online and six stand-alone multimedia resources were evaluated in detail. These varied considerably in content (atlas, text, graphics, etc.), surgical relevance and cost. Resources most appropriate for surgical trainees tended to offer either three-dimensional images that should promote a better understanding of spatial anatomy or other technological benefits such as Podcast tutorials.

There are a variety of excellent electronic resources currently available to assist the surgical trainee in acquiring a solid foundation in anatomy. Although many provide useful supplementary material, only a few offer a more comprehensive, surgically relevant framework that could usefully complement practical tuition in anatomy.