Digital Cadavers: Online 2D Learning Resources Enhance Student Learning in Practical Head and Neck Anatomy within Dental Programs

Table 1

A course map for the head and neck anatomy course, identifying curricular knowledge areas, learning environment modalities, and integration of lectures, practical laboratory sessions, and assessment items. Later offerings of the course included access to the online resources/digital library through the Griffith University Blackboard-based learning management system.

Topic	Practical labs, online videos/digital library	Assessment
Embryology of head and neck region; Design of the head and neck	Osteology, skull (dry specimens)	Online and in-class quiz
Osteology of the skull and vertebrae		Online and in-class quiz
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ); mandible at different ages	Osteology, mandible (dry specimens)	Online and in-class quiz
Muscles of mastication	Muscles of the head and neck (wet specimens)	Online and in-class quiz
Muscles of facial expression	Muscles of the head and neck (wet specimens)	Formative assessment
Triangles and muscles of the neck		Online and in-class quiz
Introduction to nervous system: somatic and visceral nervous system	Introduction to nerve supply of teeth and demonstration of local anaesthetic technique (wet specimen)	Online and in-class quiz
Trigeminal nerve: ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), and mandibular (V3) divisions		Online and in-class quiz
Cranial nerves VII, IX, X, and XII	Cranial nerves (wet specimens and plastic models)	Online and in-class quiz
Arterial blood supply in the head and neck	Arterial blood supply (wet specimens and plastic models)	Online and in-class quiz
Venous drainage in the head and neck	Venous drainage (wet specimens and plastic models)	Formative assessment
Lymphatic circulation in the head and neck	Lymphatic circulation (wet specimens and plastic models)	Revision
Tissue spaces and spread of infection in the head and neck	Cross section of the neck (wet specimens and plastic models)	Final practical exam