{"686022":{"#nid":"686022","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Digital Dissection: Anatomage Table Brings Anatomy to Life","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ECenturies ago, some aspiring doctors resorted to grave robbing to study human anatomy. Today, using the recently purchased Anatomage Table, Georgia Tech students can virtually dissect the human body with a swipe of a touchscreen\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;no scalpels, no skeletons, and no midnight raids required.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA state-of-the-art anatomy and medical education system, the seven-foot-long Anatomage Table features life-size human\u0026nbsp;\u2014 as well as several animal\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;bodies in digital formats,\u0026nbsp;providing accurate representations of three-dimensional anatomy, physiology, and digital pathology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cCadaver dissection is still the gold standard,\u201d explains Senior Academic Professional and Director of Anatomical Sciences\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/adam-decker\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdam Decker\u003C\/strong\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E who has taught anatomy and other courses at Georgia Tech since 2010. \u201cBut the Anatomage Table lets students interact with living systems digitally\u0026nbsp;\u2014 and that\u2019s something we couldn\u2019t offer before.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDecker is a passionate advocate for using the best tools available to prepare students for medical careers. After leading efforts to bring prosections (pre-dissected specimens that students learn from) to Georgia Tech in 2021, he set his sights on acquiring the Anatomage Table.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cProviding the table was the logical next step,\u201d says Decker. \u201cIt\u2019s a way to bridge the tactile experience with dynamic visualization.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe Anatomage Table was purchased with College of Sciences Technology Fee funds, designed to enhance students\u0027 experiences using modern instruments and techniques.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s a great resource for our students, especially for those who are interested in pursuing any field of medicine,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Collard\u003C\/strong\u003E, senior associate dean in the College of Sciences. \u201cIt supports active learning that will enhance students\u0027 applications to medical programs, and gives them experiences with technologies they will encounter in post-graduate professional training.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnatomy in action\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe Series 11 Anatomage Table is housed in the Gilbert Hillhouse Boggs Building and offers a one-to-one display of actual cadavers with five different bodies available for virtual dissection. Students can click on a structure and instantly access detailed information.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s one thing to sit in a classroom and have a professor explain which body parts are which,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EYusuf Abdalla,\u003C\/strong\u003E a second-year biology student with a pre-med focus. \u201cBut being able to independently manipulate the screen to view various parts of the body takes learning to the next level.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe table offers a cleaner environment with less exposure to odors and chemicals than traditional cadaver dissection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cCadavers don\u2019t come with labels. Using the table enables us to see how the body works as a system rather than just viewing individual parts,\u201d adds\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERayhan Quraishi\u003C\/strong\u003E, a fourth-year neuroscience major pursuing a career in medicine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDecker emphasizes that while the Anatomage Table is a game changer, it doesn\u2019t replace prosections.\u0026nbsp;Students will continue to work with real hearts, lungs, and even full spinal cords, thanks to a partnership with Emory University\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/med.emory.edu\/education\/omesa\/ume\/resources\/body-donor-program.html\u0022\u003EBody Donation Program\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ECombining cadaver dissection with the table enhances the overall learning experience, explains Decker:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWith prosections, they learn how the veins and arteries feel when you cut into them. With the Anatomage Table, students will see what it looks like when the heart beats or the lungs expand. They can virtually follow a drop of blood through the blood vessel, then use the touch screen to see what that same drop of blood would look like under a microscope. You can\u2019t do that with a cadaver.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom anatomy to imaging\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOne of the table\u2019s most powerful features is its integration of diagnostic imaging. Students can compare anatomical structures side-by-side with CT and MRI scans and overlay images as they simulate physiological processes like heartbeats and brain activity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDecker is currently designing a new course, Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging, that will use the table to teach students how to interpret MRI, CT, and ultrasound scans. The Anatomage Table contains built-in datasets of MRIs of the spine, heart, and brain, so students can look at the diagnostic image and the actual structure at the same time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cSome students enter medical school without once taking an anatomy course,\u201d says Decker. \u201cGeorgia Tech students, on the other hand, will already have an introduction to imaging and pathology.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESameeha Lalani\u003C\/strong\u003E, a third-year biology major who works as an EMT praises the clinical features found in the table. \u201cAfter one of my EMT shifts, I went back and recreated what happened to my patient using the table. It really made the clinical experience click, so I could better understand what happened.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExpanding access\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe table will soon be in use in BIOS 3754 (Anatomy Lab), which runs five lab sections each fall. Decker is also exploring ways to integrate the table into live lectures, transmitting demonstrations from the table directly into large lecture halls.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EPlans are currently underway to use the table in the wellness requirement course, APPH 1040 (Scientific Foundations of Health). Students will be able to visualize cardiovascular anatomy and heart disease by rotating the heart, opening chambers, and simulating conditions, such as a stroke or heart attack.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDecker is eager to collaborate with other departments and make the table a campuswide resource. He sees opportunities in health-related subjects across campus, including biomedical and mechanical engineering, neuroscience, and physiology. Student clubs like the Student Neuroscience Association, Physician Assistant Club, and Pre-Dental Society are also expected to rotate through the lab.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAnatomy is an ancient science, but it\u2019s the foundation of all healthcare. There are going to be many students who benefit from this\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;all across campus,\u201d Decker says. \u201cWe\u2019ve barely scratched the surface of what it can do.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhat Can Students Do With the Anatomage Table?\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPerform virtual dissections\u003C\/strong\u003E of life-size, digitized human cadavers with touch-responsive controls.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERotate, label, and isolate anatomical structures\u003C\/strong\u003E to study systems in detail.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECompare anatomy with diagnostic imaging\u003C\/strong\u003E, including CT MRI, and ultrasound scans.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESimulate physiological processes\u003C\/strong\u003E, such as heartbeats, blood flow, and brain activity.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExplore built-in pathologies\u003C\/strong\u003E, including stroke, tumors, and liver disease.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAccess thousands of annotated structures\u003C\/strong\u003E from male, female, geriatric, pregnant, and animal cadavers.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOverlay diagnostic images\u003C\/strong\u003E directly onto anatomical models for side-by-side analysis.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUse real frozen cadaveric slices\u003C\/strong\u003E reconstructed into three-dimensional digital formats.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConduct pre- and post-lab activities\u003C\/strong\u003E to reinforce learning before and after cadaver dissection.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETake anatomy tests,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eidentifying pinned organs and structures.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s new Anatomage Table blends traditional dissection with digital technology\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u2014\u003Cem\u003E preparing students for the future of medicine.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s new Anatomage Table blends traditional dissection with digital technology \u2014 preparing students for the future of medicine."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2025-10-27 17:44:43","changed_gmt":"2025-10-30 17:02:10","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678457":{"id":"678457","type":"image","title":"Adam Decker demonstrates how the Anatomage Table turns traditional dissection into a high-tech learning experience.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAdam Decker demonstrates how the Anatomage Table turns traditional dissection into a high-tech learning experience.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1761587203","gmt_created":"2025-10-27 17:46:43","changed":"1761587203","gmt_changed":"2025-10-27 17:46:43","alt":"Man standing over table embedded with 3-D skeleton.","file":{"fid":"262481","name":"Decker4IMG_0501.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/27\/Decker4IMG_0501.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/27\/Decker4IMG_0501.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1787993,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/27\/Decker4IMG_0501.jpg?itok=bdm2iVtH"}},"678474":{"id":"678474","type":"image","title":"Preparing for careers in medicine, Yoojin Jeong (front left), Sameeha Lalani (back left), Yusuf Abdalla (back left),  and Rayhan Quraishi (front left), dive into digital anatomy.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPreparing for careers in medicine, Yoojin Jeong (front left), Sameeha Lalani (back left), Yusuf Abdalla (back left), \u0026nbsp;and Rayhan Quraishi (front left), dive into digital anatomy.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1761663141","gmt_created":"2025-10-28 14:52:21","changed":"1761843787","gmt_changed":"2025-10-30 17:03:07","alt":"Four students huddle around a lighted table with a virtual human body on it.","file":{"fid":"262502","name":"studentsIMG_0781.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/28\/studentsIMG_0781.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/28\/studentsIMG_0781.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":907716,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/28\/studentsIMG_0781.jpg?itok=CcpbvdmX"}}},"media_ids":["678457","678474"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/hands-anatomy-one-foot-medical-school-one-foot-undergrad","title":"Hands-On Anatomy: \u2018One Foot in Medical School, One Foot in Undergrad\u2019"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"187864","name":"anatomy class"},{"id":"166882","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"177768","name":"Adam Decker"},{"id":"14513","name":"teaching technology"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura Segraves Smith, writer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}