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Ultrasound as a surface anatomy teaching resource
Author(s) -
Van Farnworth Marc,
Jamadar David A.,
Gest Thomas,
Kuhns Lawrence
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.2_supplement.5
Subject(s) - ultrasound , medicine , carotid arteries , brachial artery , surface anatomy , radiology , anatomy , cardiology , blood pressure
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether real‐time ultrasound demonstration of arteries resulted in an increase in medical students’ ability to localize these arteries using surface anatomy cues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 57 first year medical students at the University of Michigan volunteered to identify the location of the radial, brachial, and carotid arteries on a living model by observation only. The students then attended a brief ultrasound demonstration which identified these three arteries, after which the students were again asked to localize the arteries. Responses were compared using a Paired T Test. RESULTS: Students more accurately localized the carotid and brachial arteries following the ultrasound demonstration, with statistically significant Paired T values at the 90% confidence level (carotid p=0.0005, brachial p=0.032). A majority of students initially localized the radial artery correctly. CONCLUSION: Exposing medical students to an ultrasound demonstration of the location of these major arteries significantly improved their ability to localize the carotid and brachial arteries. The incorporation of ultrasound into the medical anatomy laboratory may enhance students’ appreciation of surface anatomy while exposing them to a clinically important imaging modality. Research support: University of Michigan, Departments of Radiology and Medical Education.