A systematic review of virtual reality application in anatomy studies

Abstract

Recently, the use of digital education such as three-dimensional virtual reality (3D VR) technology has become a promising system to aid learning and training in learning anatomy. In the medical sciences, it is important to understand the main concepts of anatomy before interacting with or performing procedures on patients. This technology helps the user to enhance their learning experience, as well as improving immersion, concentration, interest, enjoyment, and knowledge. While there are numerous articles on specific applications of VR in medicine, there are only a small number of systematic works currently exists on how researchers have applied the VR, especially in studies of anatomy. This study presents a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on the use of VR and the type of VR technologies used in anatomy education. It is based on articles published on PubMed digital libraries from 1999 to 2020 and aims to describe the landscape and trajectory of development for the use of VR technology in anatomy education.