Peninsula Medical School

THE ANATOMY TEACHING REVOLUTION
Top UK medical school changes the way anatomy is taught

A UK medical school is transforming the way its students learn anatomy with the help of Primal Pictures, a revolutionary anatomy software programme that is taking the medical world by storm. 

Peninsula Medical School is using the unique, dynamic human anatomy resource to develop and enhance a range of learning objects that are used alongside text books and clinical practice in the teaching of anatomy.

“I.T. and eLearning are fundamental to the learning experience at the Peninsula Medical School and it is crucial that the tools we provide engage our students from day one,” explains Paul Russell, eLearning Officer at Peninsula.  “The beauty of Primal’s software is that it is based on real images not artists’ impressions; it is also the fact that you can reconstruct, rotate and examine a 3D image on a 2D screen.  This makes it easier for our students to contextualise their learning more effectively than they would through text book images alone.”

Primal Pictures provides a comprehensive range of three-dimensional images, animations and detailed text for use in healthcare and patient education.  Primal not only offers accurate clinical detail but it is also the only software resource to offer interactive images that rotate and display up to 24 layers for in-depth anatomical exploration. 

“It is well known that people find it easier to retain images if they are shown in three-dimensions and even easier if they move.  This is especially true in anatomy teaching, where real life experience can be significantly enhanced by the use of our products,” explains Peter Allan, Managing Director of Primal Pictures.  “By introducing the software as a learning tool, it is hoped that students will be able to improve their understanding and retention - particularly through the interactive features and the ability to consolidate what they have learnt during home study.”

Peninsula’s eLearning team is using the software to enhance its own learning objects and tutors are convinced of the efficacy of the software.  “Primal software is a great learning tool,” explains James Oldham Teaching Fellow, Human Structure at the School.  “Our students’ study of anatomy in the first two years of the course focuses on living anatomy and medical imaging in common clinical contexts. One of the strengths of the Primal product is that its clinical pathology texts put the images into a clinical context, making them relevant and meaningful.  They are a great complement to a student’s on-site learning.”

Sally Holden, eLearning Manager at Peninsula, explained how students have access to Primal’s software through EMILY, their Managed Learning Environment which is available through the web.  “They can access it in a variety of educational settings; for example, to support their self-directed learning and in group sessions such as their Problem Based Learning (PBL) groups,” she says.  “Relevant images can be annotated, saved and discussed further with the use of Interactive Whiteboards and online discussion forums.”

Primal Pictures software is in DVD-ROM format and is also accessed online by licensed users through www.anatomy.tv.  It is already being used by a number of medical schools in both the US and UK, whilst the 39th edition of Grays Anatomy from Elsevier includes a supplement CD of Primal’s Interactive Anatomy Models.

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