I appreciate your interest in learning anatomy, but I need to clarify an important distinction: Your question appears to be about personal anatomy education rather than a clinical medical decision requiring evidence-based recommendations for patient care.
The evidence provided focuses on clinical imaging technologies (3D echocardiography) and surgical training methods rather than general anatomy education. However, I can address what the available research evidence suggests about using 3D illustrations for learning anatomy.
Educational Effectiveness of 3D Visualization
Yes, 3D illustrations are effective tools for teaching human anatomy and are superior to traditional 2D methods for understanding spatial relationships. 1, 2
Evidence for Learning Outcomes
Meta-analysis of 36 studies involving 2,226 participants demonstrated that 3D visualization technologies resulted in significantly better spatial knowledge acquisition (effect size d = 0.50) compared to traditional teaching methods. 2
Factual knowledge scores were also higher with 3D visualization (effect size d = 0.30), though the improvement in spatial understanding was more pronounced. 2
Most studies (12 out of 21 comparative studies) found 3D visualization significantly more effective than traditional methods like cadavers and textbooks for gaining anatomical knowledge. 1
Student Perception and Engagement
Students demonstrate significantly higher satisfaction with 3D visualization tools (effect size d = 0.28) and perceive them as more effective learning resources. 2
Medical students are motivated and interested in using 3D visualization methods for learning anatomical structures. 1
Students prefer 3D visualizations over traditional 2D methods for anatomy education. 1
Specific Learning Advantages
3D models help students better understand the shape and spatial relationships among anatomical structures, which is particularly challenging with traditional 2D representations. 3
The appreciation of 3D concepts is one of the most demanding areas for medical student learning of anatomy, making 3D visualization technologies particularly valuable. 4
3D visualizations effectively illustrate anatomical variations from one body to another, which is difficult to demonstrate with single cadaver specimens. 3
How Students Learn with 3D Visualizations
Students use seven distinct patterns of actions when exploring 3D anatomy: decoding the image, positioning the body in space, purposeful seeking, using knowledge and experience, making use of and creating variation, aimless exploration, and arriving at moments of understanding. 5
The discovery process of decoding and positioning the body in space supports deep learning when using visualizations. 5
Students benefit most when they can control how and at what pace they examine visualized images rather than having their exploration directed. 5
Clinical Context
In professional medical training, 3D visualization is extensively used for surgical planning and anatomical education, particularly for complex structures like cardiac anatomy 6 and skull base anatomy. 6, 7
Important caveat: While 3D visualizations are highly effective educational tools, they work best as supplements to—not replacements for—established anatomy teaching methods including cadaver dissection and clinical correlation. 4