Art, anatomy, and medicine: Is there a place for art in medical education?

Abstract

For many years art, anatomy and medicine have shared a close relationship, as demonstrated by Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings and Andreas Vesalius' groundbreaking illustrated anatomical textbook from the 16th century. However, in the modern day, can art truly play an important role in medical education? Studies have suggested that art can be utilized to teach observational skills in medical students, a skill that is integral to patient examination but seldom taught directly within medical curricula. This article is a subjective survey that evaluates a student selected component (SSC) that explored the uses of art in medicine and investigates student perception on the relationship between the two. It also investigates whether these medical students believe that art can play a role in medical education, and more specifically whether analyzing art can play a role in developing observational skills in clinicians. An "Art in Medicine" 8-week course was delivered to first year medical students at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. The use of art to improve observational skills was a core theme throughout. Feedback from the students suggests that they believe a strong association between art and medicine exists. It also showed a strong perception that art could play a role in medical education, and more specifically through analyzing art to positively develop clinical observational skills. The results of this subjective study, together with those from research from elsewhere, suggest that an art-based approach to teaching observational skills may be worth serious consideration for inclusion in medical and other healthcare curricula.

From ancient to avant‐garde: a review of traditional and modern multimodal approaches to surgical anatomy education

“…The use of drawing has also been consistent with the trend of implementing art in medical studies, conveying the associated psychological benefits whilst honing the common skills of both disciplines, including observation, pattern recognition and emotional interpretation. 12 Careful pencil illustrations may likewise benefit aspects of surgical techniques by exerting similar skill demands, including hand dexterity, attention to detail, knowledge of form and spatial awareness. 13 The 'drawbacks', however, may include the time requirement, different learning styles and potential dependence on pre-existing artistic ability.…”

Life Drawing for Medical Students: Artistic, Anatomical and Wellbeing Benefits

“…These modules have proved popular, although were largely focused on developing creative and empathetic faculties as opposed to the technical skills of drawing. Arts training has also been used as a supplement to anatomical teaching (Collett & McLachlan, 2005) and, in particular, as a method for improving clinical observation skills (Bardes et al, 2001;Bell & Evans, 2014;Kirklin et al, 2007;Naghshineh et al, 2008;Shapiro et al, 2006). However, these studies have primarily focused on theoretical elements of artistic training, with limited opportunity for students to practically apply their learning in a practical sense.…”

More than a neuroanatomical representation in The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo Buonarroti, a representation of the Golden Ratio

“…For many years art, anatomy, and medicine have shared a close relationship, as demonstrated by Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings and Andreas Vesalius’ groundbreaking illustrated anatomical textbook from the 16th century (Bell and Evans, ). This close relationship between art and anatomy remains until today, since the use of illustrations still constitutes an essential element of learning anatomy (Calkins et al, ; Chosh, ).…”

“…Thus, according to the evidence shown in this article, we can suppose that the beauty and harmony recognized in all Michelangelo's works may not be based solely on his knowledge of human anatomical proportions, but that the artist also probably knew anatomical structures that conform to the GR display greater structural efficiency. It is hoped that this report will at least stimulate further scientific and scholarly contributions to this fascinating topic, as the study of these works of art is INTRODUCTION For many years art, anatomy, and medicine have shared a close relationship, as demonstrated by Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings and Andreas Vesalius' groundbreaking illustrated anatomical textbook from the 16th century (Bell and Evans, 2014). This close relationship between art and anatomy remains until today, since the use of illustrations still constitutes an essential element of learning anatomy (Calkins et al, 1999;Chosh, 2015).…”