Anatomy Learning from Prosected Cadaveric Specimens Versus Plastic Models: A Comparative Study of Upper Limb Anatomy

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy

Background:

• Human cadaveric prosections are a traditional method for anatomy learning.
• Plastic models offer an alternative, but their effectiveness in musculoskeletal anatomy education is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of human cadaveric prosections versus plastic models for learning upper limb musculoskeletal anatomy.
• To assess student performance and satisfaction with each learning modality.

Main Methods:

• Sixty undergraduate medical students were divided into two groups: one using cadaveric prosections and the other using plastic models.
• Knowledge assessment included spot tests and multiple-choice questions.
• Student satisfaction was evaluated through anonymous questionnaires.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in examination performance was found between students using cadaveric prosections and those using plastic models (P = 0.477).
• Student satisfaction levels were also comparable between the two groups (P = 0.441).

Conclusions:

• Plastic models are a valuable supplementary tool for learning upper limb anatomy.
• They are appreciated by students, easy to use, and require less facility maintenance, making them useful for anatomy education.