Medical students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU) have an alternative to sharpen their knowledge of anatomy with interactive computer software.
With the assistance of Computer Service Centre, the Department of Anatomy has developed software on spinal cord functions and diseases, brain-stem lesions, neuroanatomy sections and anatomical images such as X-rays, magnetic resonance image and computer tomography on teaching and learning of anatomy.
The software was developed from the department's own collection of brain specimens.
Outlines of the brain structures were manually traced and the programmes designed to display the anatomical images and the names of brain structures.
The department has also installed interactive 3-D software called VOXEL-MAN to allow the display of the structures of the head in an interactive, dissection-like way.
Users can rotate the head, remove layers of tissue and view the deeper structures from different angles.
They can also obtain a visual impression of the spatial relationships of the neural structures, blood vessels, muscles and bones of the head.