Background: Currently anatomy training and assessment is seriously disrupted in COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown. New challenges of anatomy curriculum and assessment method development are being attempted based upon resources, expertise and technical skills of educators. This study aims at creating a standard operation procedure (SOP) for conducting gross anatomy assessment, finding statistical relevance and discusses viewpoints of students reflected in feedback. Materials and methods: a retrospective cross sectional study was conducted on 250 first year students at GSVM Medical College Kanpur India. Students were briefed about SOP and were given choice to opt for either of three interview modalities of assessment tool [Viz. Telephonic Interview (GROUP T), Whatsapp© video call (GROUP W) and Zoom© meetings (GROUP Z)] and submit subjective feedbacks to assessor regarding new assessment format. The marks obtained as response distribution were subjected to descriptive statistics. One way ANOVA was applied to test any difference in means at (P<0.05) followed by post-hoc pair wise test amongst groups corrected to Bonferroni adjusted alpha level of [P<0.0167] per test. Results: Among 97.2% respondent ANOVA test result pointed that the types of interview pattern preferred had no significant impact on obtained score [F (2,240) = 2.80, p = .062], post-hoc test further confirmed that there was no significant difference between groups. Conclusion: the assessor and students both need to evolve and adapt to paradigm changes. Student’s feedback will serve to tailor the assessment tool by refining validity, consistency, reliability and interaction dynamics of assessment designs. Alternative evidence based futuristic assessment methods exploration are call of the hour. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(0) 2020 p.S 21-S 27

The mastoid process is a conical projection from the undersurface of the temporal bone. Examination of skeletal remains by anthropologists requires sex determination. The present study proposes to determine sex from morphometry of the mastoid process. The study was conducted on 300 dried skulls with the help of a digital vernier caliper. Discriminant functional analysis was performed. The parameters measured were the mastoid triangle, which is formed by specific points the porion, mastoidale, and asterion, and the linear distances between them. All parameters were higher in male skulls with a high level of significance. The area of the mastoid triangle proved to be the best parameter for sex discrimination.

Introduction: Morphometric differences of several bones form the basis of sexual differentiation. The mastoid triangle has been widely used as a predictor of sexual differentiation. However, the radiographic measurements of the mastoid triangle, which form the clinical alternative of this parameter, have not been studied in the North Indian population. Therefore, we analyzed skull radiographs of live subjects to investigate the effectiveness of the radiographic mastoid triangle in sex determination.Methods: One hundred skull lateral radiographs (55 male and 45 female) from the digital archives of a tertiary care teaching institute in Northern India were retrospectively analyzed. The following parameters: porion-mastoidale length, mastoidale-asterion length, asterion-porion length, and area of the mastoid triangle were measured. Gender-based differences for these parameters were then calculated for any statistical significance. Further, the low value of Wilks' lambda, high values of Eigenvalues, and percentage of correct prediction accuracy denoted higher predictive value. Finally, discriminant function analysis was used to predict the relative validity of each measured parameter.Result: All measured parameters were significantly higher in the male group. The porion-mastoidale length was 32.21±2.15 mm in males and 31.66±3.21 mm in females. The mastoidale-asterion length was 50.00±9.75 mm in males and 49.84±6.97 in females. The asterion-porion length was 44.11±6.82 mm in males and 39.72±5.77 mm in females. The area of the mastoid triangle was 690.74±123.35 mm 2 in males and 570.57±130.0 mm 2 in females. The area of the mastoid triangle has the highest relative validity (78%). Conclusion:Considerable ethnic and racial differences have been observed in the radiographic morphology of the mastoid. The radiographic dimensions of the mastoid are potential predictors of sexual dimorphism. With the use of discriminant function analysis, the current study predicts the effectiveness of the area of the mastoid triangle as a reliable parameter for sexual differentiation in the Northern Indian population.

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We are undergoing crisis for humanity with corona virus disease (COVID-19) causing extensive damage to life and its aspects. Moreover we do not know how this will unfold in near future. All the academic classes are suspended during nationwide lockdown to alleviate the propagation. It is high time to rethink ways to deliver quality medical education under restriction of social isolation and absenteeism in real time teachings and discussions. We propose, based upon our experiences, replacement of didactic gross anatomy dissection with handmade dissection videos and its implications. It has its own challenges which could be overcome with planned directives based upon current experience. What is the magnitude of the problem?In this gloomy environment of forced absenteeism, reluctance in study plans and procrastination requirescounseling for emphasizing the importance of tight declining schedule and benefits of timely curriculumfor covering huge syllabus. Traditional methods of face-to-face educational didactics, lectures and chalk talks has been compromised like no other time in past. Use of education technology at a mass scale for economically deprived countries, limited availability of techno friendly medical educators and adaptation of student to newer teaching techniques was already restrained in pre-pandemic time. Also, the alignment of new teaching format with amount of content and duration of topic coverage, necessary and safe enough to train for effective practice of problem-based learning warrants reorganizing available resources. From student’s perspective,accommodation and fooding concerns in lockdown, poor internet access with intermittent disconnection,lack of high-end laptops and absenteeism are major concerns, which precluded us from live streaming ofgross anatomy dissection. Also, it is to be ensured that changes in teaching style have positive impacton amount and depth of concerned knowledge.