HSLS is offering a new anatomy resource for Pitt users to explore. Acland’s Video Atlas of Human Anatomy was developed by the pioneering surgeon, anatomist, and educator Dr. Robert D. Acland. The project began in 1993, sparked by a suggestion made by a student who was impressed with the quality of Dr. Acland’s lecture slides. The atlas offers an immersive learning experience, consisting of a series of videos that guide learners through the intricacies of human anatomy.
The atlas emphasizes hands-on learning; the videos showcase cadaver dissections performed by Dr. Acland himself, providing a unique opportunity to explore the human body in a way that closely simulates a real-life dissection experience. The use of either unembalmed or only mildly preserved cadavers adds authenticity, while the 3-D capture techniques allow viewers to gain a better understanding of the spatial relationships and structures of the human body.
Organized into several sections, the videos focus on specific regions of the body, such as the head and neck, upper extremities, and lower extremities. Viewers are guided through a systematic exploration of anatomical structures, including muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and organs. Each video is accompanied by narration (along with full-text transcript) that explains the anatomical features being observed, making it a great resource for self-study, classroom instruction, or as a supplement to traditional textbooks.
Users may create a personal account for use within the Acland’s website. Other helpful features of the atlas website include exams for self-evaluation and a helpful glossary for users to translate Arabic, Latin, and Greek terms commonly used in anatomy. Videos can be favorited and exams have the option to be timed, allowing users to tailor their learning experience.
Note for Instructors: Links to individual videos may be added to Canvas course materials. Acland’s provides a list of URLs in PDF or Excel format. Please note: If using links outside of Canvas, the University of Pittsburgh EZProxy prefix needs to be added to the link. Example: https://pitt.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://aclandanatomy.com/MultimediaPlayer.aspx?multimediaId=10528031
You can navigate directly to Acland’s Video Atlas of Human Anatomy or find it on the Databases A-Z page.
~Ann Passmore