Anatomage Table provides virtual hands-on learning for anatomy, physiology classes

Jeffery Sweet from Anatomage, Inc. demonstrates the Anatomage Table for IU East’s School of Natural Science and Mathematics faculty and staff. The 3D anatomy and physiology technology will soon be implemented in on campus classes.

Students at Indiana University East’s School of Natural Science and Mathematics can look forward to a new learning tool for their anatomy and physiology classes on campus.

Rather than using a scalpel to perform a dissection, students preparing for a career in health science will now use an Anatomage virtual dissecting table. This table allows students to learn human anatomy by providing a life-sized display of the human body.

Using virtual controls, an instructor or students may peel back layers of tissue and examine bones, blood vessels and organs. Students may even use a virtual scalpel tool to make incisions, cut away portions of the body and inspect different cross-sections of any anatomical structures.

“The Anatomage Table is a state-of-the-art teaching tool that will provide students an active and enriching educational experience,”said Associate Professor of Biology Parul Khurana, Ph.D. “With streaming, video recording and screen capture capabilities, it is an innovative technological solution for realistic anatomical studies in the classroom and online environments. The table will help elevate the quality of instruction, improve student engagement and learning, and prepare them for advanced studies.”

IU East students (right to left) Grace Cull, a junior biology major from Richmond, and Chloe Mitchell, a sophomore biochemistry major from Greenville, Ohio, learn to use the Anatomage Table with Brian Olson, lecturer for the School of Natural Science and Mathematics.

Brian Olson is a lecturer in biology at IU East. He said he is looking forward to giving aspiring health professionals a realistic experience.

“The anatomage table offers students the opportunity to review diagnostic images that correlate to case studies of a variety of health conditions,” Olson said. “This will give students experience in real life scenarios enabling them to enhance their problem solving skills.”

The table will primarily be used in courses that prepare students for a career in health sciences, such as IU East’s nursing program or the Bachelor of Science in Human Life Science and Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry degrees.

The human life science degree is popular among students who wish to pursue physical or occupational therapy, or to become physician assistants, while the biochemistry degree is popular among students who want to go to medical school.

The abilities of the Anatomage Table goes beyond teaching anatomy and physiology.

Junior biology major, Grace Cull takes a closer look at the skeletal anatomy of a canine. The Anatomage Table provides simulated human and animal options to learn tissue, blood vessel, bone and organ anatomy.

“The table can also simulate the anatomy of cats, dogs, frogs and various other animals,” said Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Markus Pomper, Ph.D. “We hope that this new tool will get students enthusiastic about studying life sciences.”

The Anatomage Table is reserved for use in on campus classes, but the school will offer demonstration sessions at various IU East events.

For more information on IU East’s School of Natural Science and Mathematics, visit https://www.iue.edu/nsm/index.html.

IU East School of Natural Science and Mathematics faculty and staff learn how to use the tools of the Anatomage Table. From right to left: Stephanie Lee, adjunct lecturer in biology; Jenilee Braun, assistant lab manager and IU East alumna; Mary Blakefield, associate professor of biology; Heatherlynn Barrett, laboratory coordinator and Brian Olson, lecturer in biology.