The application of fibre optics in self-teaching programmes in anatomy

Self-teaching programmes in the form of tape/slide sequences have been used in the Department of Anatomy and Experimental Pathology, University of St Andrews, Scotland for a number of years and provide students with taped text and colour projections of two-dimensional drawings or diagrams. Such presentations are intended to replicate the lectures. Like anatomy departments elsewhere, anatomical and pathological specimens in museum pots have a fully-labelled photograph alongside to help identify specific anatomical structures. Recently, fibre optics have been introduced to illustrate anatomical features in prosections or museum specimens as a means of overcoming the drawbacks of a two dimensional illustration. A labelled push-button device has been constructed to illuminate optical fibres in order to identify and pinpoint anatomical structures in wet or dry specimens. Pinpoints of bright light are more readily seen than pin labels which also proved to be unsuitable in certain situations, such as within the skull foramina.