At the LSU Health Science Center New Orleans School of Nursing, within the Nursing Skills and Technology Center, students are using the new Anatomage Table, a tool that redefines anatomical studies. This technology integrates advanced imaging techniques to provide highly detailed 3D visualizations of human anatomy, enhancing both the depth and flexibility of traditional cadaver-based learning. The Anatomage Table offers students the ability to explore anatomical structures with precision, perform virtual dissections, and review complex systems from multiple perspectives, all while preserving the integrity of the models for repeated use.
A New Era in Anatomy Education
The School of Nursing’s decision to invest in the Anatomage Table indicates a significant shift in educational focus. According to instructor Elizabeth Hopkins, MSN, RN, Simulation Faculty, the Anatomage Table was introduced to complement the anatomy curriculum. “We still have our anatomy course with human cadavers,” Hopkins explains, “but with the Anatomage Table, students can explore anatomy in a renewable way. Unlike a physical cadaver, where once you make a cut, it’s permanent, with the Anatomage Table, students can make multiple dissections, undo them and come back to practice over and over again.”
Enhancing Learning Through Technology
The Anatomage Table offers features that allow students to interact with anatomical models in ways that cadavers cannot replicate. As Hopkins elaborates, the table includes high-resolution digital images of real cadavers that have been meticulously sliced into thin layers and rebuilt virtually. “We can turn them in multiple positions, animate them, and view anatomy from different angles,” she says. “I could probably spend an entire day explaining all the functionalities of this table – it’s spectacular.”
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Anatomage Table is its scalability. From undergraduate nursing students to those in advanced programs like nurse practitioner and anesthesia courses, the Anatomage Table is adaptable to a variety of educational levels. Hopkins says, “There are features on this table that I can use for incoming nursing students all the way to graduate nursing students. It really enhances their learning experience.”
Bridging Gaps in Traditional Learning
Although physical cadavers offer a tactile learning experience, the Anatomage Table addresses potential future issues, such as cadaver shortages, and provides additional layers of instruction. “The physical cadaver gives students that tangible sensation,” Hopkins says. “The Anatomage Table allows me to show functionality and movement in a way cadavers can’t. I can animate joints, simulate medical conditions, and even demonstrate complex processes like childbirth.”
For instance, Hopkins recalls a moment when she used the table to show delivery in a sagittal view, so the students could see inside the body during labor. “The table is equipped with a variety of activities that are customizable and able to be tailored to individual learner’s levels and needs. It ‘brings to life’ the pathophysiology of the human body, allowing students to see the cadaver’s heartbeat, lungs expand, kidneys filter, and more.”
A Tool for All Learners
Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. According to Hopkins, “First- and second-level students, who are enrolled in the traditional anatomy course with the cadavers, really have the ability to enhance their learning by using the AT. Additionally, there are features on this table that can be used with pre-nursing through post-graduate nursing learners.”
Hopkins adds that students are eager to spend more time using the Anatomage Table, and she’s working to load activities tailored to their specific learning needs. “The biggest drawback is that I’m the one who’s most trained on the table, so I’m working on getting more faculty up to speed,” she says. As more instructors become familiar with the technology, Hopkins is confident that the Anatomage Table will become a central part of the school’s nursing education.
With its ability to simulate various medical scenarios and conditions, the Anatomage Table provides a comprehensive learning tool that bridges the gap between textbook knowledge and real-world application. As Hopkins notes, “Anyone working with human beings can benefit from this table.”
“The AT is one more reason to showcase the School of Nursing’s mission to provide innovative programs of learning and to provide excellence in healthcare education,” she says. “This type of cutting-edge technology can further elevate the school’s reputation as a premier leader in the art and science of nursing education.”
