SpartanAnatomy.org: Evaluating a new interactive neuroradiology tool for early medical education

Teaching neuroanatomy through the lens of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers medical students a strong foundation for success. However, many existing MRI learning resources lack interactivity and user-friendliness, require payment, or include an overwhelming number of labeled structures. There is a clear need for a free, accessible MRI atlas that emphasizes foundational neuroanatomical structures, specifically tailored to early medical learners. Ideally, the resource would enable users to isolate and visualize individual structures simultaneously across multiple imaging planes. To address this gap, we developed a web-based, interactive MRI atlas of neuroanatomical structures designed for early medical education. Available at SpartanAnatomy.org, the atlas is free, publicly accessible, and intended as a supplemental tool to help students become familiar with brain structures in MRI while concurrently learning their clinical correlates in class. The site also features a built-in quiz function. We invited medical students at Michigan State University to explore the website for an open-ended period before completing the built-in quiz. Students were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the resource and asked to self-report their quiz scores and time spent on the website. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Students highlighted the value of visualizing structures in all three planes, the interactive nature of the tool, and the intuitive navigation. Many also offered insightful suggestions for future improvements. Notably, self-reported quiz scores showed a statistically significant correlation with the amount of time students spent exploring the website. This resource has the potential to benefit medical students everywhere, supporting neuroanatomy instruction through a clinical lens.