Cases

In a fruitful collaboration with the Pediatrics and Cardiology department in the UMCG, two e-learning modules on echocardiography involving 3D-models of the heart were made for the medical curriculum. It all started with a question presented to us by the teachers involved in teaching echocardiography. They noticed their students struggling interpreting echo loops. The underlying challenge for us in this particular case was to bridge the gap between the 3D anatomy of the heart and its 2D representation in the echo loops. Thus far, students had been using textbooks with static images and other non-interactive resources when studying the complex relation between heart anatomy (which in itself is a 3D structure) and its 2D representation in medical imagery such as echo loops.

We reasoned that when being equipped with improved understanding of 3D heart anatomy, students would be better able to translate 3D anatomy to 2D echo loops. And what better way to represent intricate 3D anatomical structures, than with interactive 3D models?

Try the live version here! (University account needed)

In the last two years multiple modules have been created together with the oral rehabilitation department of dentistry and oral health care in the UMCG. Part of this improvement was a module about the mechanism of multiple common problems with the temporomandibular joint. Namely, the anterior discus displacement (ADD) with and without reduction, two forms of jaw popping or clicking. The movement of the jaw joint is a complex subject and many students struggle to understand this concept. An interactive video was created to get a better understanding of the typical dislocation patterns of the discus. The video stops automatically at each critical step in the movement to give an precise explanation of what is happening. In addition the interactive video was matched with 2D images for each step to simplify the complex mechanism. Imbedded in a patient case are students introduced to this concept.

Try the live version here! (University account needed)

Lymph nodes are a main component of the adaptive immune system. Therefore, an important subject in the medical curriculum. The interplay between antigens, antigen presenting cells, T-cells and B-cells within the lymph node is rather complex. The pathology department came to us with the question to explain this process step by step.

A series of illustrations was created to visualize the process in a comprehensive way, both at a cellular level and the lymph node as a whole. In 3 related modules students learn about the structure of lymph nodes, the function and maturation of B-cells and common mutations that may occur. The module is used in the educational programme to prepare them for a practical. This way, students can ask the teacher more in depth questions about the study material.

Try the live version here! (University account needed)