ArticleMedical science educator2020
What Is the Role of 3D Printing in Undergraduate Anatomy Education? A Scoping Review of Current Literature and Recommendations.
Article in Medical science educator, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Role of 3D printing technology in paediatric teaching and training: a systematic review.BMJ paediatrics open · 2021Pooled it
- Development of a Cost-Effective 3D-Printed Airway Suction Simulator for Respiratory Therapy Students.Respiratory care · 2024Trial
- 3D-Printed Models as Catalysts for Neuroanatomy Learning: An Immersive Educational Experience for Medical Students.Cureus · 2026Article
- Lecture, model, or both? Optimizing fracture education with 3D printing: a longitudinal interventional study.3D printing in medicine · 2026Article
- Next generation open access visualization of neuroanatomy through 3D modeling and 3D printing.Anatomical sciences education · 2026Review
- [Intraosseous access in infants-development of an anatomical training model].Medizinische Klinik, Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin · 2026Article
- Interdisciplinary Development of 3D-Printed Anatomical Models for Human Gross Anatomy Education.Advances in medical education and practice · 2026Article
- Design of an interactive brain model for neuroanatomy education and MRI training.Anatomical sciences education · 2025Review
- Introducing 3D printed models of fractures in osteology learning improves clinical reasoning skills among first-year medical students: a pilot study.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- A case study: exploring the impact of 3D printed models on cognitive integration during clinical skills training.Canadian medical education journal · 2024Article
- Exploring the Impact of Varied Design Approaches and Materials in Respiratory Therapy Education.Respiratory care · 2024Article
- Use of 3D foot and ankle puzzle enhances student understanding of the skeletal anatomy in the early years of medical school.Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA · 2024Article
- Using three-dimensional printed models for trainee orbital fracture education.BMC medical education · 2023Article
- The Application of 3D Anatomy for Teaching Veterinary Clinical Neurology.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- Application of 3D-printed pulmonary segment specimens in experimental teaching of sectional anatomy.BMC surgery · 2023Article
- Technology-Enhanced Preclinical Medical Education (Anatomy, Histology and Occasionally, Biochemistry): A Practical Guide.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2023Article
- Are 3D printed models acceptable in assessment?The clinical teacher · 2022Article
- Commentary: Accessing 3D Printed Vascular Phantoms for Procedural Simulation.Frontiers in surgery · 2022Article
- Bridging Visual-Spatial Ability and Skill Performance: The Impact of Perceived Quality of a Practical Seminar in Interventional Radiology Education.Journal of medical education and curricular developmentArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThree-dimensional (3D)-printed models have become increasingly popular as an alternative to the traditional method of cadaveric dissection in teaching anatomy. It has the advantage of lower cost and higher reproducibility. It has been widely used in the postgraduate setting, but its efficacy in undergraduate education has not been studied extensively.
objectivesA scoping review of the literature was undertaken systematically to investigate the role of 3D printing in the anatomy education of undergraduate medical students.
methodsA systematic literature search of databases (EMBASE, Pubmed, Educational Resources Information Center, British Education Index and Australian Education Index) was undertaken using relevant keywords.
resultsThe search yielded 83 results, which were narrowed down to 13 articles after application of exclusion criteria. The literature supported that 3D printing was a useful tool for studying normal, uncommon and pathological anatomy. However, limitations include low fidelity in replicating the colour and textural physical properties of soft tissues and the trade-off between cost and fidelity.
conclusionsIt is believed that 3D printing would increasingly be integrated into undergraduate anatomy education, and it might also potentially be used in the assessment of anatomical knowledge and clinical skills training. The establishment of an online 3D model database may facilitate educators to easily manufacture models for specific educational purposes.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.