Bridging Anatomy Curricular Gaps: Leveraging Student-Created Video Resources in Elective Courses.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomical Sciences
• Virtual Reality in Medicine

Background:

• Traditional anatomy education relies heavily on cadaver dissection.
• Curricular demands and diverse learning styles necessitate supplementary educational tools.
• Multimedia and virtual reality (VR) offer potential for enhanced engagement and comprehension.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a student-led educational module for teaching facial muscles.
• The module integrated cadaveric dissection, a dissection guide, and a VR video.
• To assess the module's effectiveness in enhancing student understanding and engagement.

Main Methods:

• A human anatomical donor facial dissection was performed and documented.
• A comprehensive dissection guide was created, including anatomy, steps, and clinical correlations.
• A VR video was produced using Meta Quest 2 and 3D Organon XR, featuring animated muscles and cultural references.

Main Results:

• Fifty-two medical students participated; survey results were highly favorable.
• Students rated the VR video highly for explaining muscle function (4.37), engagement (4.42), and visual quality (4.27).
• Cultural references (4.46) and VR as a supplement to dissection (4.29) were particularly well-received.

Conclusions:

• Integrating VR and cinematic references into anatomy education holds significant pedagogical value.
• The student-developed module effectively reinforced facial anatomy understanding, engagement, and motivation.
• VR modules are a promising complement to traditional anatomy education, with potential for expansion to other areas and clinical integration.