First-year anatomical knowledge acquisition in Indian medical students

Abstract

Anatomy education has always been regarded as an essential requirement in the curriculum of medical and other health related disciplines and nursing (Turney, 2007). However, there is growing concern over these students’ loss of anatomical knowledge over time (Narnaware and Neumeier, 2020). This study, the first of its kind in Indian medical students, evaluates base-level anatomical knowledge acquisition in the first year. It is found to be organ system-specific and varies from one organ system to another. This base-level knowledge acquisition can be used to evaluate its transfer/loss, retention and application in the subsequent years of medicine in the future.