3D-Printed Coronary Arteries: An Effective Tool in Medical Education

Anatomy and physiology can be a challenging topic due to their inherent complexity. Anatomy is most effectively learned through a combination of memorization, comprehension, and visualization.1 Lectures and textbooks provide efficient means for memorization and comprehension but can often be challenging for thee-dimensional (3D) visualization. Conceptualizing 3D structures from two-dimensional (2D) textbook figures poses difficulty for many students. Anatomical education can be accompanied by dissection of cadavers, which can aid in visualization, but can be time-consuming and expensive.2 3D printing technology, however, holds the potential to solve this problem and enhance the anatomical education experience.