Studying living anatomy: the use of portable ultrasound in the undergraduate medical curriculum

This paper describes the use of portable ultrasound imaging in the teaching of living anatomy to undergraduate medical students. The paper outlines the rationale for using portable imaging technologies in undergraduate anatomy teaching, as well as the practical issues which must be considered in designing and delivering such teaching activities. The following areas are discussed in the paper: obtaining appropriate consent from the volunteers who are being scanned and ensuring their health and safety during and after scanning, ensuring optimum set-up of the learning environment, use of the equipment and designing appropriate learning activities for undergraduate teaching.