Tamil Nadu medicos may soon have virtual human cadavers in new-age 3D to train them about the intricacies of the human body.
Even as there is a huge shortage of cadavers (a corpse used for research) for medical students, the Standing Academic Board of the TN Dr MGR Medical University in its latest meeting has approved teaching of anatomy, histology and pathology through 3D animation, where students can dissect virtual organs and operate on virtual patients.
“Simulation is the future of education; it is a well accepted form of training doctors in the West.We are facing a dearth of human cadavers now, and 3D teaching modules will come handy,” explained Dr Mayil Vahanan Natarajan, varsity’s VC.
The board had resolved that the 3D teaching module would be introduced from the August 2012 batch, and are looking for funds to acquire the software.
Diabetologist Dr V. Mohan, a member of the board, recalls the virtual anatomy software he came across at Pakistan’s Dow University.
“The simulation of human anatomy was fantastic — a student can touch the screen to slice through the skin of the virtual patient, and the animation takes him, layer by layer, through the body. It simulates the muscles under the skin, each blood vessel and nerve is clearly seen,” he says.
Government-run medical colleges are better off than private ones when it comes to availability of cadavers, as they have access to unclaimed bodies.
However, the student-cadaver ration is still very poor; most anatomy classes will have 15 to 20 students nudging each other and standing on tip toe for a glimpse of the cadaver.