Musculoskeletal anatomy education perspectives

Musculoskeletal (MSK) anatomy education is a critical foundation for developing competency among radiologists, physiatrists, rheumatologists, and orthopedic surgeons. However, current undergraduate medical curricula often exhibit significant deficiencies in instructional hours, integration of diverse teaching modalities, and clinical relevance. This narrative review synthesizes recent evidence (March 2021-March 2026) identified through a targeted search of Medline, Embase, and Scopus, with an emphasis on consensus guidelines, validation studies, and clinically focused publications related to MSK anatomy, imaging modalities (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography), and curriculum design for medical students in relevant specialties. Multimodal interventions, including cadaveric dissection, radiological anatomy, case-based rheumatologic and rehabilitation modules, and technology-enhanced platforms such as 3D virtual models and AI-driven adaptive learning, have been associated with improvements in knowledge retention, spatial reasoning, diagnostic accuracy, and procedural confidence compared with didactic instruction alone. Persistent knowledge gaps undermine interpretive proficiency in MSK imaging, including the identification of synovitis and enthesopathy, and are linked to reduced clinical preparedness. Objective assessments reveal suboptimal performance despite completion of conventional preclinical training. Cadaveric dissection fosters practical skills and ethical professionalism, while early integration of imaging connects theoretical morphology with three-dimensional relational understanding and pathological correlations in MSK and rheumatic diseases. Implementation frameworks recommend phased rollouts that incorporate stakeholder needs assessments, faculty development through train-the-trainer models, resource reallocation for point-of-care ultrasound and virtual reality, and strategies to address barriers, such as grants for low-resource settings and modularization to reduce curricular congestion. These evidence-based approaches support scalable reforms that produce MSK-literate clinicians prepared for precision diagnostics and interventional practice.