A Taxonomy Guide for Surgical Simulation

The lack of a common language within surgical simulation can not only create confusion but can also impede efforts to coherently describe data, techniques, assessment, and research. The goal of this chapter is to present a comprehensive taxonomy of terms (Fig. 1) used within surgical simulation to guide those embarking on new simulation endeavors and to serve as a reference for those already in the trenches. Although best efforts were made to provide the most definitive description of each term, we do acknowledge that many terms referenced are in various stages of development. We provide references for further reading to guide the reader in additional understanding of each concept.