Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42277945›Full record

ArticleAnatomical sciences education2026

Exploring 3D anatomy: A free online course supporting novice learner inquiry and spatial conceptualization.

Jiayi Zhang, Moksh Sachdeva, Calum McCaig, Eleanor Gordon, Leonard Shapiro, Iain D Keenan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Anatomical sciences education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jiayi ZhangSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Moksh SachdevaSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7575-4395
Calum McCaigSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9231-0945
Eleanor GordonLearning and Teaching Development Service, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Leonard ShapiroThe Department of Family, Community and Emergency Care, Primary Health Care Team, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1362-8254
Iain D KeenanSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Funding

Careers Service, Newcastle UniversityFaculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Newcastle University
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Application of three-dimensional anatomical knowledge is essential for patient examination, diagnosis, and treatment and is crucial in the training of medical and healthcare students. Moreover, critical observation and spatial awareness are vital for learner understanding of three-dimensional anatomical structures and relationships. However, there are logistical barriers to curricular integration of teaching that explicitly targets these skills. Exploring 3D Anatomy is an open online course, collaboratively produced at two universities in the United Kingdom and South Africa, and available free of charge to institutional and non-institutional users via Canvas (Instructure Europe, London, UK). The course is designed to develop three-dimensional spatial awareness remotely, using accessible household objects and art-based learning. Exploring 3D Anatomy is underpinned by pedagogical principles including multimodal, experiential, and social learning; critical observation and visualization; and evidence-informed art-based learning approaches including Haptico-visual observation and drawing and Observe-reflect-draw-edit-repeat. A phenomenological study was implemented to investigate learner perceptions of the pedagogical, social, and practical elements of Exploring 3D Anatomy. Undergraduate medical students (n = 8) at a United Kingdom medical school participated in two focus groups. Combined themes were constructed using double-coding and interpretative phenomenological analysis. A nested set of four themes was produced, each comprising a dichotomy or spectrum of views between opposing sub-themes: Inquiry (Strategic-Exploratory); Dialogue (Knowledge-Understanding); Cognition (Compartmental-Conceptual); Experience (Novice-Advanced). This work provides insights and implications for educators seeking to provide training in important but neglected skills beyond the boundaries of formal curricula, through implementation of flexible, accessible, and remote learning and training strategies in anatomical education.

Indexed as

AnatomyComputer-Assisted InstructionEducation, DistanceEducation, Medical, UndergraduateImaging, Three-DimensionalStudents, MedicalAcademiaCurriculumFemaleFocus GroupsHumansProblem-Based LearningSouth AfricaUnited Kingdomanatomical illustrationanatomy educationanatomy teachingdigital anatomygross anatomytopographic anatomy

Identifiers

PMID42277945
PMCPMC13654059

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.