The Use of Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality in Anatomy Education

Modern advances in educational technology have provided exciting opportunities for teaching anatomy. However, the learning experience is varied between each device, providing challenges for educators when deciding which technology to incorporate. This chapter provides an overview of the strengths of each modality, where they are best applied, and potential pitfalls to avoid to ensure the successful integration into the anatomy class. Virtual reality allows for immersive visualisation of structures within the body but can be costly and less collaborative than other modalities. Augmented reality is suited for surface anatomy and allows for more collaboration and note-taking. Mixed reality shows great promise in creating a rich learning experience with group collaboration; however, it is currently cost prohibitive for wide adoption.