Imaging and visualization in medical education

Almost every imaging modality and type of visualization finds a place in the teaching of medicine. These include photographs of patients, dissected anatomy, and pathology tissue; videos of abnormal patient behavior; radiologic imagery such as computed-tomography scans; and images of isotope emissions in nuclear medicine. We also use synthetic or simulated images, such as animations of embryo development, graphs of simulation output, and 3D reconstructions of anatomy from cross-sectional imagery. Visualizations of simulated elastomechanical models allow us to see tissue undergoing natural processes, such as a heart beating, or intrusive processes, such as probing, cutting, or suturing. This tutorial reviews the many types of medical images available. Specific topics in medical education help demonstrate how imaging enhances their teaching.