A strategy for mastery of sectional anatomy must contain research to determine whether or not the methodology is sound.  The research-based approach presented below demonstrates the effectiveness of a specific strategy. One application that deals with a comprehensive understanding of human anatomical features and their adjacent structures is a prescribed, sequenced labeling method (PSLM). The method contrasts the modern convention of random labeled human anatomical sections.  The PSLM is based on studies utilizing images acquired from The Visible Human Project, and was performed at Triton College. These studies have shown a significant impact on the learning rate and the comprehension of structures and adjacent anatomical relationships.

     Sixty-nine (69) college students enrolled in sectional anatomy participated in these research studies.  They were randomly separated into two groups: A and B.  All students were given the same pretest, followed by a study period, and then were issued posttests. The study material for Group A consisted of an axial brain section, labeled in accordance with the PSLM protocol.  Group B was issued the identical photograph, labeled randomly. Both groups were instructed to “list and recognize the parts/layers of a transverse brain section, form superficial to deep” by writing their answers in spaces provided as one of two posttests. The second posttest (multiple choice) stressed the adjacent relationship of those same structures. Group B was then issued the identical study guide distributed to Group A initially, and thereafter, a set of posttests. These studies have shown that the PSLM significantly increased a given student’s rate of learning and comprehension of adjacent structures.

      The goal of the second part of this study is to establish a systematic search pattern for sections. One aspect of the strategy for mastery of sectional anatomy incorporates the PSLM approach.
 
Keywords: Learning sectional anatomy, labeling, anatomical relationships.
 

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