Educational Anatomy Software Improves Patient-Doctor Communication

Users can also choose from 10 detailed 3D views of the brain and 13 views of cranial nerves.

Interactive functions allow rotation of the model through 360 degrees and add or remove different layers of anatomy to view and label any feature with ease. Clicking on a feature will bring up links to all relating text, dissections, clinical slides, diagrams, illustrations, video clips and functional anatomy animations, as well as surface anatomy videos that demonstrate muscle action. Detailed and labeled cross sectional anatomy can be viewed in three different planes and compared with equivalent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in up to 20 slices. Simple edit functions allow export and printing of any image from the software for use in presentations, patient education, and student handouts. The software is supplied on a DVD-ROM or via a website.

"The DVD shows excellent magnetic resonance imaging sectional images of the head and neck along side diagrammatic anatomical views. These are appropriately labeled and the images can be scrolled from deep to superficial as well as rotated in their vertical plane," said Neil Tolley, M.D., a consultant ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon at St Mary's Hospital (London, UK). "In days where less emphasis is placed on Anatomy teaching this would also be suitable for medical students, particularly as cadaver dissections are included. Trainees in radiology as well as those in the surgical disciplines would find this extremely instructive"

The Primal Pictures Head & Neck Anatomy software with Special Senses and Basic Neuroanatomy is a development of Primal Pictures (London, United Kingdom), and has recently won an award for the finest educational entry of the year at the 34th annual international health and medical education media ("Freddie") Awards. The British Medical Association (BMA) has also recently awarded the DVD-ROM its Electronic Book prize.

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