Human and animal dissections go virtual in multiple Iowa colleges

Why it matters: The digital systems have greatly elevated the standard of anatomy education in medical and nursing schools, according to an article by medical journal Cureus.

How it works: Virtual dissections provide interactive life-size representations of body parts, allowing users to do things like peel off skin to display muscles and instantaneously compare differences between anatomies.

• They're often considered a supplementary educational resource, according to Cureus.

Zoom in: ISU introduced its first virtual dissection in their animal sciences programs in the fall of 2022. Traditional methods of studying animal physiology are still in use.

• The system — which includes both human and animal digital models — cost $50,000 to install and is used by about 400 students a year, ISU spokesperson Dave Roepke tells Axios.
• Digital human anatomy is often used in ISU's program because the working structures of body parts such as hearts are similar to animals, per ISU.

Fun fact: Drake University's College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences introduced the 3D technology last fall and published a video of its new system.

• Drake is also launching a new nursing degree program starting later this year and those students will use its virtual dissection table, spokesperson Ashton Hockman tells Axios.