The Level of Anatomical Knowledge, Hard to Establish: a Systematic Narrative Review

doi:10.1007/s40670-022-01509-w

Review

. 2022 Mar 30;32(2):569-581.

doi: 10.1007/s40670-022-01509-w. eCollection 2022 Apr.

The Level of Anatomical Knowledge, Hard to Establish: a Systematic Narrative Review

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
² Present Address: GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leuven University Medical Centre, Leuven, Belgium.
⁵ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology/Medical Education, OLVG Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁶ Department of Medical Education, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁷ Athena Institute for Trans-Disciplinary Research, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁸ Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

PMID: 35528299
PMCID: PMC9054958
DOI: 10.1007/s40670-022-01509-w

Review

The Level of Anatomical Knowledge, Hard to Establish: a Systematic Narrative Review

Dorothea Maria Koppes et al. Med Sci Educ. 2022.

. 2022 Mar 30;32(2):569-581.

doi: 10.1007/s40670-022-01509-w. eCollection 2022 Apr.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
² Present Address: GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leuven University Medical Centre, Leuven, Belgium.
⁵ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology/Medical Education, OLVG Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁶ Department of Medical Education, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁷ Athena Institute for Trans-Disciplinary Research, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁸ Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

PMID: 35528299
PMCID: PMC9054958
DOI: 10.1007/s40670-022-01509-w

Abstract

Objective: This literature review aimed to gain more insight into the level of anatomical knowledge based on published measurements among medical students, residents, fellows, and specialists.

Methods: We performed an extensive literature search in three online databases: Medline (using PubMed), Web of Science, and Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC).

Results: A total of 30 relevant studies were found. In these studies, participants took different anatomy tests, and their mean/median scaled scores range from 22.5 to 82.4% on a 0 to 100% scale.

Conclusion: This review provides an overview of what is known about measured anatomical knowledge. After critically reviewing the literature, we have to conclude that the existing literature confirms that anatomical knowledge is hard to establish, mainly due to the lack of standardisation.Further research should focus on ways to define and assess 'desired anatomical knowledge' in different contexts. In a next phase, we can discuss if anatomical knowledge is lacking and if interventions are needed.

Keywords: Anatomy; Knowledge; Scientific perspectives; Test.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestThe authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Flowchart of literature search

See this image and copyright information in PMC

Cited by

The Influence of Craniometric Variation on the Position of Mandibular Foramen: A Cadaveric Cross-Sectional Study.
Darawsheh H, Alsaegh A, Nikolenko V, Bakieva S, Smilyk I, Panin A, Kheygetyan A, Troitskiy V, Leonov D, Vasil'ev Y. Darawsheh H, et al. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Nov 23;60(12):1925. doi: 10.3390/medicina60121925. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024. PMID: 39768807 Free PMC article.
Assessing anatomical knowledge and confidence in central venous catheter insertion: a single-center cross-sectional study among physicians in a resource-limited setting.
Suliman A, Mohamed A, Saadeldein M. Suliman A, et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2025 Mar 18;87(4):1930-1940. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000003169. eCollection 2025 Apr. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2025. PMID: 40212148 Free PMC article.
Enhancing residency training by addressing anatomical knowledge gaps through structured educational programs: a need assessment study in radio diagnosis residents.
Sarangi PK, Narayan RK, Purushothama S, Kumar A, Asghar A, Kumar P, Panda BB. Sarangi PK, et al. Surg Radiol Anat. 2024 Dec 17;47(1):36. doi: 10.1007/s00276-024-03541-4. Surg Radiol Anat. 2024. PMID: 39690295

References

1. Sinclair D. The two anatomies. Lancet. 1975;1:875–878. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(75)91681-5. - DOI - PubMed
1. Older J. Anatomy: a must for teaching the next generation. The surgeon : journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland. 2004;2(2):79–90. doi: 10.1016/S1479-666X(04)80050-7. - DOI - PubMed
1. Waterston SW, Stewart IJ. Survey of clinicians' attitudes to the anatomical teaching and knowledge of medical students. Clinical anatomy (New York, NY) 2005;18(5):380–384. doi: 10.1002/ca.20101. - DOI - PubMed
1. Cottam WW. Adequacy of medical school gross anatomy education as perceived by certain postgraduate residency programs and anatomy course directors. Clinical anatomy (New York, NY) 1999;12(1):55–65. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2353(1999)12:1<55::AID-CA8>3.0.CO;2-O. - DOI - PubMed
1. Bergman EM, Prince KJ, Drukker J, van der Vleuten CP, Scherpbier AJ. How much anatomy is enough? Anat Sci Educ. 2008;1(4):184–188. doi: 10.1002/ase.35. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

Actions

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
- Europe PubMed Central
- PubMed Central

[1] Sinclair D. The two anatomies. Lancet. 1975;1:875–878. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(75)91681-5. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Sinclair D. The two anatomies. Lancet. 1975;1:875–878. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(75)91681-5. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Older J. Anatomy: a must for teaching the next generation. The surgeon : journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland. 2004;2(2):79–90. doi: 10.1016/S1479-666X(04)80050-7. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Older J. Anatomy: a must for teaching the next generation. The surgeon : journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland. 2004;2(2):79–90. doi: 10.1016/S1479-666X(04)80050-7. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Waterston SW, Stewart IJ. Survey of clinicians' attitudes to the anatomical teaching and knowledge of medical students. Clinical anatomy (New York, NY) 2005;18(5):380–384. doi: 10.1002/ca.20101. - DOI - PubMed

[6] Waterston SW, Stewart IJ. Survey of clinicians' attitudes to the anatomical teaching and knowledge of medical students. Clinical anatomy (New York, NY) 2005;18(5):380–384. doi: 10.1002/ca.20101. - DOI - PubMed

[7] Cottam WW. Adequacy of medical school gross anatomy education as perceived by certain postgraduate residency programs and anatomy course directors. Clinical anatomy (New York, NY) 1999;12(1):55–65. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2353(1999)12:1<55::AID-CA8>3.0.CO;2-O. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Cottam WW. Adequacy of medical school gross anatomy education as perceived by certain postgraduate residency programs and anatomy course directors. Clinical anatomy (New York, NY) 1999;12(1):55–65. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2353(1999)12:1<55::AID-CA8>3.0.CO;2-O. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Bergman EM, Prince KJ, Drukker J, van der Vleuten CP, Scherpbier AJ. How much anatomy is enough? Anat Sci Educ. 2008;1(4):184–188. doi: 10.1002/ase.35. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Bergman EM, Prince KJ, Drukker J, van der Vleuten CP, Scherpbier AJ. How much anatomy is enough? Anat Sci Educ. 2008;1(4):184–188. doi: 10.1002/ase.35. - DOI - PubMed

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

The Level of Anatomical Knowledge, Hard to Establish: a Systematic Narrative Review

Affiliations

The Level of Anatomical Knowledge, Hard to Establish: a Systematic Narrative Review

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

Similar articles

Cited by

References

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources