Integration with clinical medicine
Anatomy in clinical medicine
Anatomy is the foundation for all branches of clinical medicine. The anatomy courses in the first two years of preclinical medicine, Functional Architecture of the Body (MVSTIA) and Head and Neck Anatomy (MVSTIB), as well as the anatomy projects undertaken in Part II PDN, equip our students with the knowledge and understanding of the human body that is needed for their clinical course at the School of Clinical Medicine.
From October 2014, all students entering the preclinical course will remain at Cambridge for their clinical studies, providing an opportunity for increased integration of preclinical and clinical curricula. In anatomy teaching, this already occurs on a number of different levels in the preclinical courses:
- Applied Anatomy sessions in the preclinical courses comprise case scenarios, radiology stations, surface anatomy and live demonstrations
- Clinical Demonstration sessions at Addenbrooke's Hospital with consultants presenting patients with relevant signs and symptoms
- Abdominal ultrasound sessions where students can revise their anatomy through observing real-time scanning of volunteers
- Fibreoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopy on student volunteers for demonstration of structures in the upper respiratory tract
The following collaborations between organisers of preclinical anatomy teaching and clinicians of different specialties at Addenbrooke's Hospital will enhance further integration of anatomical knowledge into clinical practice:
- Development of 3D imaging for teaching in Head & Neck Anatomy and Neuroanatomy with Consultant Neurosurgeons Mr Ramez Kirollos, Mr Thomas Santarius, Mr Rikin Trivedi and members of their team
- Integration of preclinical and clinical case-based learning for Musculoskeletal Anatomy with Professor Andrew McCaskie, Mr Niel Kang, Mr Stephen McDonnell and members of the orthopaedics team
- Investigation of student attitudes to cadaveric dissection, the development of professionalism and exploration of issues surrounding mortality with Dr Stephen Barclay and a number of clinical students
Anatomy Revision Sessions
Clinical students return to the Dissection Room for Anatomy Revision Sessions in each of Years 4, 5 and 6, to cover different regions of the body. The focus of these sessions is on the application of anatomical knowledge to clinical practice, comprising different stations with case scenarios and corresponding prosections.
Beginning of July
Year 4 Clinical Students Anatomy of Thorax and Peripheral Joints (2 groups)
From September to May
Year 5 Clinical Students Anatomy of Abdomen and Pelvis (8 groups throughout the year)
Beginning of October
Year 6 Clinical Students Anatomy of Head and Neck (2 groups)
Student Selected Components
Clinical students may elect to take Student Selected Components with the Human Anatomy Teaching Group. More details may be found on the SSC webpage of the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine.
2021-22
David Hu
- 3D scanning of historical specimens for anatomy teaching
Eason Chan
- Dissection and 3D scanning of abdominal cavity and production of a model for anatomy teaching
Wenlong Zhao
- Dissection and 3D Scanning of forearm specimens for anatomy teaching
2020-21
Isabel Austin
- Investigating the degree of rotational instability that occurs with loss of the spring ligament
Poster presentation at forthcoming to 23rd EFORT (European Federation of National Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology) Congress, Lisbon, Portugal from 22-24 June 2022
Ben Goddard-Fletcher
- Adjustments to the natomy teaching programme during the Covid pandemic
2018-19
Will Mullins
- Micro-CT scanning of tibial specimens and virtual biopsies at defined regions of interest on the tibial plateau
Paper published in Journal of Anatomy: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joa.13282
Ryan Loh
- Assessing branching patterns of the medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm in cadaveric specimens
2017-18
Rahul Shah
- Investigating variation in position and morphology of the mental foramina in the mandible
2015-16
Jonathan Bartlett (CC), supervised by Mr John Lawrence
- What Risk is Posed to the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve in Modern Hip Surgery? (abstract)
Oral presentation at the BACA (British Association of Clinical Anatomists) Winter Scientific Meeting 2016, Leeds Institute of Medical Education, University of Leeds
Medical Electives
The Elective provides an opportunity for clinical students to organise a scientific project of their own choice. More details may be found in the Elective webpage of the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine.
2017-18
Written paper: Ferro A, Basyuni S, Brassett C, Santhanam V, Study of anatomical variations of the zygomaticofacial foramen and calculation of reliable reference points for operation, Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 55(10):1035-1041 Dec 2017 (pubmed link, article)
Conference abstract: Ferro, A., Basyuni, S., Brassett, C., Santhanam V., Study of anatomical variance of the zygomaticofacial foramen and determination of reliable reference points for surgery, International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 46:201-201 Article number S1 Mar 2017 (pubmed link, abstract)
2015-16
Ashley Ferro (HH), assisted by Shadi El-Basyuni (HH), supervised by Mr Vijay Santhanum
Much of this work is being undertaken at the Duckworth Laboratory at the Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, supported by Dr Marta Mirazon Lahr
- Determination of a reliable reference point to prevent zygomaticofacial neurovascular damage in zygomatic and orbital floor surgery
Written paper: A. Ferro, S. Basyuni, C. Brassett, V. Santhanam, Study of anatomical variations of the zygomaticofacial foramen and calculation of reliable reference points for operation, British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Available online 6 November 2017 (full text)
Oral presentation at the Anatomical Society Winter Meeting, 20 December 2016 at Guy's Campus, King's College London
Oral presentation at the BACA (British Association of Clinical Anatomists) Winter Scientific Meeting 2016, Leeds Institute of Medical Education, University of Leeds
Other Projects
2020-21
Cavan West
Evaluation of the heel external rotation test in soft tissue deficiencies associated with adult acquired flatfoot deformity: a cadaver sectioning analysis. Recipient of a Summer Scholarship from the British Association of Clinical Anatomists 2021
2017-18
In collaboration with Dr Stephen Barclay, Consultant in Palliative Care, Fellow & Director of Studies, Emmanuel College
Gamlin C, Womersley K, Taylor H, Fay I, Brassett C, Barclay S., 'Can You Be a Doctor, Even if You Faint?' The Tacit Lessons of Cadaveric Dissection, Psychiatr Danub 29(Suppl 3):247-253 Sep 2017
2015-16
In collaboration with Dr Stephen Barclay, Consultant in Palliative Care, Fellow & Director of Studies, Emmanuel College
Victoria Morley (JN) and John Foreman (DOW)
- Anxiety and Anticipation: How do medical students feel prior to entry into the Dissecting Room? (abstract)
Oral presentation at the BACA (British Association of Clinical Anatomists) Winter Meeting, 10 December 2015 at St George’s, University of London