The Anatomy Schema Network

The Anatomical Schema network (ASN) is proposed as a framework that defines how anatomical information is stored in memory of an anatomy learner and serves as an indicator of the learner's competency. Information stored in Long Term Memory plays a vital role in all aspect of education and schema theory is seen as one of the most effective ways of conceptualizing information storage. It proposes that information is stored in memory as mental structures called schemata that consists of individual units and the interlinks between them. Based on this understanding, the anatomical schema (AS) is proposed as a hypothetical mental structure that stores anatomical information in units relating to an anatomical structure or region and the interlinks between those units. ASN groups these AS into three levels based on the nature of information in the individual units and the complexity of the interlinks between the units. AS in the first level have information units on a single anatomical structure and have a maximum of three interlinks. The second level contains AS with information units related to more than one anatomical structure and less than six interlinks. Units of AS in the third and final level have an infinite number of interlinks and contain information relevant to a particular professional context. The framework has been applied to anatomical taxonomies for learning activities (ALA), textual representation AI. A similar philosophy is applied in IAPP for assessments.