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Stereoscopic (3D) Visualization Improves Medical Student Comprehension of Head and Neck Vascular Anatomy

The use of 3D stereoscopic models (3DSM) of head and neck blood vessels in anatomy education has not been studied in detail. We investigated whether 3DSM created from a prior study (Cui et al. 2015) would improve student learning of head and neck vascular anatomy. Comparisons were made between the use of 3DSM and identical but 2D flat screen images extracted from the 3D models in a first year medical gross anatomy course. Anatomical knowledge was tested via pre‐ and post‐learning session anatomy knowledge tests. In addition student fluency with mental rotation (pre‐ and post‐session rotation tests.) Results were analyzed using a Wilcoxon rank‐sum test and linear regression analysis. A total of 39 first year medical students participated in the study. Baseline pre‐learning session test scores were equivalent, 5.85±2.37 and 5.03±1.93 for 3DSM and 2D groups respectively. Students who utilized the 3DSM (n=21) scored significantly higher on the post‐learning tests compared to those using 2D images (n = 18) (11.43±2.79 vs 8.75±2.81) (p =0.0033). There was no significant difference on the mental rotation test scores between 3DSM (17.29±5.36) and 2D groups (17.39±6.42) after learning sessions (p=0.6208). In summary, the use of virtual stereoscopic 3D models improved medical student performance on knowledge tests of head and neck vascular anatomy, suggest new avenues for the use of virtual models in medical education.