Innovative Tech Allows Health Sciences Focus Program Students to Dissect Body in New Way
Students at the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program at Lincoln Northwest High School are dissecting the body in a new and innovative way with the Anatomage Table, a digital platform that enables students to perform virtual scientific experiments on a life-size touchscreen table.
The Anatomage Table is the most technologically advanced 3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection tool in healthcare education. It provides an interactive view of the human body, allowing students to virtually dissect different parts of the body in an immersive experience.
“It’s gone above and beyond our expectations for all that is has allowed us to do,” said Katherine Karcher, director of high school outreach, Bryan College of Health Sciences. “It has so many functions, features and buttons. We’re just so excited to keep learning more about it.”
Images Based on Real Cadavers
The state-of-the-art system uses two touchscreen monitors to project a 3D rendered image to be examined. The images are based on the cadavers of deceased individuals who donated their body to science. The table also includes medical imaging of each person and a library of over 1,000 CT and MRI scans of various individuals to review and explore.
Additionally, a customizable menu allows students to focus and explore specific sections of the body. Whether it’s the head and neck area, chest, torso or lower body, every area is accessible. The software also allows students the ability to zoom in and out and rotate the body as needed to find the most appropriate viewing angle.
“We’ve studied anatomy in the textbooks, but actually being able to see something like this in person is just really cool,” said Charlotte Coughlin, a senior at Lincoln Northwest High School. “There’s just so much. Anything you want to look at, you can go and find it.”
Lincoln Northwest High School, in partnership with the Bryan College of Health Sciences was awarded nearly $85,000 to purchase the Anatomage Table through the Nebraska Department of Education’s reVISION grant. This technology will improve outcomes for students interested in health sciences and STEM-related curriculum and occupations like Charlotte, whose goal is to become a general surgeon.
