Mwarisi, M. G. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2020

The Wooden Skull: An Innovation Through The Use Of Local Materials And Technology To Promote The Teaching And Learning Of Human Anatomy

Skeleton models are important in facilitating students easy retention and recollection of information in the future. These may assist students carry out hands-on practice in order to acquire and practice new skills that are relevant to first aid. The increasing number of medical institutions and medical students attracts the challenge of inadequate facilitation of the teaching and learning processes. This warrants a study and/or an exploration of an alternative solution such as wooden models in order to solve the problem of scarce and ethically restricted human teaching aids. Wooden pieces (50cm length x 20cm diameter) from a Jacaranda mimosifolia tree were prepared for the carving process and wooden replicas of human skulls were made. Two experimental groups of randomly selected medical students (60: Active and 60: Control) were separately taught using wooden and natural skull models respectively. The two groups were assessed and evaluated using the natural skull models to compare their understanding of the Anatomy of the skull. Additionally, opinion statements were collected from participants in the active group during the oral examination. Six (6) wooden skull models were produced and used for experimental study. Comparisons of academic scores (mean and median) between Active (students using the wooden skull) and control (students using natural skull) groups showed no statistical significant difference (P [≥] 0.05). Concerning the enhancement of learning skills; the wooden model was constructed in a way that would be able to enhance learning as it would be the natural skull. The wooden skull model, with more improvement in structural formation, can adequately facilitate the teaching and learning of anatomy of the Human skull. This project and the experimental study about utilization of the wooden skull model provides a good potential of using the wooden models to supplement the use of the natural human skull.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2019

Evaluation Of Bilateral Asymmetry In The Humerus Of Human Skeletal Specimen

Several studies have established a relationship between morphological and behavioural asymmetry making investigations of bilateral bone asymmetry an attractive and important research area. The purpose of this study was to investigate bilateral asymmetry patterns of skeletal specimen from five geographical locations (Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Kenya and Uganda) at Galloway Osteological Collection, Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences at Makerere University.\n\nThe angle of torsion and retroversion, mid shaft circumference, length and weight of 232 pairs of humeri were determined. A Torsiometer was used to measure the angle of torsion in degrees according to Krahl and Evans 1945, a tape was used to measure the mid shaft circumference at the level of the apex of the deltoid V and the length in cm was determined. An osteomeric board was used to measure the length of the humerus in centimeters. A weighing balance was used to measure the weight of the humerus in grams.\n\nThe analysis of humeral asymmetry with respect to parameters of the human skeletal specimen at the Galloway Osteological collection Mulago revealed bilateral asymmetrical status observed in the angle of torsion, length, weight and mid-shaft circumference. Our result mostly showed lateralization to the right in all the parameters investigated except the torsion angle which is to the left.\n\nOur investigation revealed that humeral torsion is inversely proportional to weight, length and mid-shaft circumference of the humerus. This study established the existence of bilateral asymmetries in the humeri of all the geographical regions investigated with more asymmetry observed in the male compared with the female.

zoology↗