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Veterinary Medical Journal –Giza (VMJG), Vol. 60 (2), 51 -60, December 2014
http://www.vetmedjcu.com/
ISSN 1110-1423
51
Development of a computer program demonstrating the surface
anatomy of the equine' thoracic limb
Elnady, F. 1, Rezk, H. M. 2 and, Yara S.Abou Elela3
1,2,3 Anatomy and Embryology Department at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo
University, Egypt.
Email: felnady@staff.cu.edu.eg
Abstract
In the present project, we used multimedia technology to develop a computer program
demonstrating the surface anatomy of equine' thoracic limb. Microsoft Power Point 2013©
was the container for the multimedia assets of the program. It involves explanatory text,
images, video clips and audio narrations, in addition to questions and answers for student
self-evaluation. The program interface presents a button for each region of the thoracic limb.
Prominent and palpable superficial structures within each region were categorized into
superficial muscles, veins, arteries, nerves and others. Addressing the clinical relevance to
such structures when applicable, made the program more useful to promote knowledge,
enhance and facilitate teaching and learning of surface anatomy for both veterinary students,
practitioners and horse owners as well.
Keywords: computer program, equine thoracic limb, forelimb, surface anatomy, multimedia
Introduction
Use of cadavers in anatomical studies decreased in the last few years; hence,
alternative interactive teaching methods appeared. Use of computer-based programs
is one of the successful alternatives. Surface anatomy allows students, surgeons and
veterinarians to know the different structures of the body on live animal without
dissection. Determining the accurate site for joint injection or nerve block saves time
and gives better results. Use of computer programs compared to traditional anatomy
teaching methodsis recommended to enhance and facilitate learning (Codd and
Choudhury, 2011; Turney, 2007; Galland, Oberst, Lorenz and Mosier, 1995).
Material and Methods
The current project was divided into two different phases. Phase I aimed at
surveying and collecting the available data about the surface anatomy of thoracic
limbs in equine. Phase II embraced development of a dedicated multimedia
computer program addressed to learning surface anatomy of equine thoracic limb.
Production of the multimedia computer program:
Most of the obtained results of our work are encased in the developed
computer program. The integrated multimedia assets of the program included
images, text, video and audio narration.
Elnady, F. Development of a computer program for the equine' thoracic limb
52
The Hardware used for developing the program involved a PC (personal computer)
running Windows 8 Pro 2012 Microsoft corporation. Samsung digital camera
WB2100, with a resolution of 3072 x 2304 (16 MB) was used to shoot the images
and record the video clips. Microphone, Logitech®, was used to record the audio
narrations. All the original digital data were collected, sorted in folders and stored on
the hard disc and another two backups were kept on My Passport™ WD external
hard discs.
The software used comprised Microsoft Windows 8 Professional (operating
system), Microsoft office 2013, Adobe Photoshop® Cs6, iMindMap 7.0 and
iSpring® Pro 7 which provided tools for manipulating, management and editing
images.
Developing the computer program:
All the scientific information incorporated in the developed program were
obtained from our results and based on evidence in the review of literature that were
collected and refined precisely.
Animal and Image Acquisition: thoracic limbs from horses, donkeys and mules
were used in this study.
The original digital images were taken from the prepared specimens in
addition to the valuable transparent horse located in the department of anatomy and
embryology at faculty of veterinary medicine, Cairo university. The images were
saved without any editing into separate folders. Next, the best images were selected
to be presented in the computer program. Some of the images were edited using
Adobe Photoshop® CS6. The editing process involved removal of the background,
adjusting brightness and contrast using various facilities in the Adobe program like
levels, brightness and contrast, color balance, and curves. Color cast in some images
was removed by going to image, adjustments and variations. The processed images
were saved in a PSD format (Photoshop Documents), where all layers are present.
Another copy for each image was saved in JPEG format. Labels and legends were
added to the JPEG files using Microsoft Word 2013. Arrows and labels were
grouped with their respective images to prevent any displacements. The labeled
images were finally inserted into Microsoft Power Point® 2013.
Some video clips were recorded on the live animal demonstrating the main
prominent and palpable features in the thoracic limbs. Videos were transferred to the
computer, saved as Windows Media Video (WMV) files to be embedded into the
developed program. Narration of text presented in the program was added, saved as
mp3 audio files and inserted into the Power Point program. The developed program
using Microsoft Power Point® 2013 was instructionally designed. To facilitate
navigation, the main menu of the program was designed using the master slide and
action buttons that were built in Power Point; like home, back and next….etc. Other
links to various parts of the program were made through inserting hyperlink option
within Power Point. Some mindmaps were developed using iMindMap 7.0 to
display the organization of each section in the program. iSpring® pro7 was used to
convert Power Point program into a flash file.
Veterinary Medical Journal –Giza (VMJG), Vol. 60 (2), 51 -60, December 2014
http://www.vetmedjcu.com/
ISSN 1110-1423
53
Results
User interface. A screenshot of the program interface is shown in Fig. 1,
displaying the various buttons used for the program navigation. A home button is
always available to get back to this main menu at any time.
Clicking the thoracic limb button will display the various regions of the
limb. Superficial structures within each region are sectioned into superficial
muscles, if any, veins, arteries, nerves, and others like lymph nodes, bursae,
ligaments …..etc.
Mind maps summarized a huge data in one screen for fast and easy
reviewing.Fig. 2 summarizing different structures in carpal region was incorporated
into the program for better understanding. Some video clips explaining the surface
anatomy on the live horse were inserted into the program.
The program is rich in digital images Fig. 3from fresh equine cadavers or
fixed specimens and from live animals. Audio narration of some didactic text and
comments were added to the program. Drawing of the most prominent and palpable
structures was done on the intact limb Fig. 4 to imagine position of such structures
in the live animal. Detailed anatomical structures were presented from dissected
fresh cadavers Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. The developed program involved the various
approaches used to inject joints and bursae of thoracic limb Fig.7. The program also
incorporated precise description of sites used for various nerve blocks.
Quizzes were included into the program Fig. 8. The quizzes involved
multiple choice, matching and true or false question formats. In all instances, each
question requires the user to think before he puts his input. In all question formats,
feedback is provided immediately after the student response.
Fig. (1). A print screen of the program interface displaying the main menu buttons used
in navigation.
Elnady, F. Development of a computer program for the equine' thoracic limb
54
Fig. (2). A print screen from the program displaying a mind map of the carpus.
Figure (3). A print screen of the program showing lateral view of right forearm region
of a horse (A. fresh B. dry C. colored specimens) showing:
1. Biceps brachii muscle 2. Extensor carpi radialis muscle 3. Common digital extensor
muscle 4. Ulnaris lateralis muscle 5. Lateral digital extensor muscle 6. Tendon of
common digital extensor muscle 7. Extensor carpi obliquus muscle
A
C
B
Veterinary Medical Journal –Giza (VMJG), Vol. 60 (2), 51 -60, December 2014
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ISSN 1110-1423
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Figure (4). A print screen from the program showing lateral view of right thoracic limb
of an embalmed horse. Drawing with acrylic colors to show position of most prominent
and palpable features.
Figure (5).A print screen from the program showing detailed anatomical dissection of
fresh cadavers.
Elnady, F. Development of a computer program for the equine' thoracic limb
56
Figure (6).A print screen from the program showing detailed anatomical dissection of
fresh cadavers.
Figure (7).A print screen from the program showing site of injection of the coffin joint.
Veterinary Medical Journal –Giza (VMJG), Vol. 60 (2), 51 -60, December 2014
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Fig. (8). A print screen showing the program feedback for one of the true or false
questions, and the quiz summary showing the score for that particular user.
Discussion
In the last few decades several attempts were made to minimize use of
cadavers in teaching veterinary anatomy. This was attributed to the harmful effect of
formalin on the health of instructors, students and workers. Moreover, organizations
of animal rights and welfare highly restrict the use of animals unless they are
obtained from some ethical sources. Also, the risk of transmission of zoonotic
diseases from animals to human is another factor in addition to the will to lower the
economic cost. Hence, alternative interactive teaching methods such as computer
based programs and anatomical modules have been evolved and successfully used.
Surface anatomy is defined as part of living anatomy with special reference for its
clinical importance (Finn, 2010). Since anatomy to the body is like geography to the
world, and dissection of dead animals is made specifically for the sake of live
animals, hence the surface anatomy must be in focus for its great clinical
importance. Thisis in agreement with Ganguly and Chan(2008) and McLachlan and
Patten(2006), who assured that surface andliving anatomy is more effective than
cadaveric anatomy in medical education. Moreover, observation revealed that most
students were unable to locate or identify the surface anatomical structures on the
live animals, despite the fact that many of them have taken the veterinary gross
anatomy undergraduate course. In a trial to solve this problem, we developed our
program as a forward step in the digital-age learning.
Based on our experience and feedback of previously made questionnaires in
the department of anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cairo University, where
previously developed computer programs, including CDs for anatomy, surgery and
quizzes for self-assessment, were used by veterinary students, the students preferred
studying anatomy using the developed software in combination with traditional
dissection methods(Rezk, 2010), (Shaker, 2010), (Tolba, 2010) and (Shaker, 2013).
Elnady, F. Development of a computer program for the equine' thoracic limb
58
Also the present study revealed that use of multimedia interactive computer program
to teach and learn equine surface anatomy of the thoracic limb enhanced the student
professional skills by learn the structure of the limb over the skin and detect any site
for injection more accurate, this was in harmony with (El-Nady, 1999), (EL-Nady,
2002), (Shokery, Elnady and Gadallah, 2002) and (Tolba, 2010).
PowerPoint was selected as a shell enveloping the elements of the computer
program. This has a double benefit; it facilitates the development of the program and
since most of students know how to use PowerPoint, it was easy for them to use the
program. The presented program, being rich in digital images attracted the visual
students to study and become more familiar with anatomy through interaction. This
is in agreement with Boonchieng (2008), Yeung, Fung and Wilson (2010)and
Keedy, Durack, Sandhu, Chen, O'Sullivan and Breiman(2011)who cited that
computer-based text documents containing images and text with animation or
interactive features are more applicable for students now. By selection and using
PowerPoint there was no need for code typing, or programming of any kind. Use of
actions and master slides features within Power Point allowed for ease of navigation
and getting back at any time to the main menu.
Pedagogically, there are many learning styles and multiple intelligences, our
developed interactive multimedia program tried to cover most of them. For the
visual learners we offered high quality digital images, video clips and mind maps.
For audio learners, we provided audio narration. For kinesthesia mind maps
summarized a huge data in 3 D form. In addition to its different branching colors
proved to be attractive and flexible for viewers which are in agreement to what was
mentioned by (Buzan, 1986).
Although learning Adobe Photoshop from the beginning was not an easy
task, and manipulating images for adjustment and corrections was time consuming,
the final, high quality detailed images worth the time and effort. Use of Adobe
photoshop facilitates editing of images as removing background and adjusting color
tone and other minor corrections. However, labels and arrows on the imageswere
added using Microsoft Word 2013© instead of Adobe Photoshop®, because
Microsoft word facilitates adding of arrows and transparent text boxes without the
hassle of layers in Photoshop. Also, it is much easier to re-edit legends in Microsoft
word. The recorded video clips were inserted in WMV format, because it is one of
the most suitable formats accepted by Power Point program.
According to our interviews with veterinary surgeons, in our faculty and
other veterinary faculties, anatomists and some veterinary students at final years,
positive comments were received about the benefits of the program, its user friendly
interface, and ease of its use. The aforementioned clients also confirmed the
importance of the work for the perfection of their profession.
Future. Users' comments involved also suggestions regarding further
development of similar programs to cover other parts of equine body. The program
can be utilized all over the world as adjunct tool for learning equine surface
anatomy.
Veterinary Medical Journal –Giza (VMJG), Vol. 60 (2), 51 -60, December 2014
http://www.vetmedjcu.com/
ISSN 1110-1423
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Elnady, F. 1, Rezk, H. M. 2 and, Yara S.Abou Elela3
