# PRODUCT REVIEW / ÉVALUATION DE PRODUIT

**Product:** Acland's Video Atlas of Human Anatomy

**URL:** https://aclandanatomy.com/

**Cost:** Price based on the number of users (FTE); must contact for individualized quote.

## Purpose and Product Description

Acland's Video Atlas of Human Anatomy is an online database that contains high-quality videos of real human cadaver dissections, organized by anatomical region. It includes audio narration that explains in detail what the viewer is seeing, and each video contains a clickable menu that is conducive to self-directed learning.

## Intended Audience and Users

This product is intended for anatomy instructors at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, students in health-related programs, undergraduate or postgraduate medical trainees, and anyone else who has an interest in human anatomy.

## Special Features

The Acland's platform contains an A-Z index that helps locate videos quickly, along with a detailed glossary that provides interpretations for the Greek, Latin, or Arabic anatomical structure names. The videos are accompanied by closed captioning and transcripts, can be stopped and started at anytime, and can be embedded within learning management systems or shared via a link. It is worth nothing that a link to a video can be shared with users who do not have a subscription to Acland's, and this link remains active for five days with a maximum of ten clicks permitted [1].

In the spirit of self-directed learning, Acland's has a built-in exams feature that is accessible to users after creating their personal account. These exams include content across all of the Acland's volumes that the institution has licensed, and the exam-taker can customize their exam parameters and see their progress as they work through the questions.

## Compatibility

Acland's is fully functional in Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer using a computer. When using Acland's via your web browser on a mobile device, the transcript option becomes unavailable and the video menu does not display, which prohibits the viewer from jumping to a different section of the video. Closed captioning is still present in videos when viewing on a mobile device. Acland's is not available as a mobile app but has been optimized for mobile devices [2].

## Platform

Acland's is housed on an intuitive platform that is maintained by Wolters Kluwer, and library professionals who have used the *Bates Guide to Physical Examination* product through Wolters Kluwer will recognize this layout and its functionality. Wolters Kluwer has considered accessibility needs in designing this product, as Acland's videos are equipped with closed captioning, transcripts, the ability to maximize or minimize the screen, the option to speed up the video if desired, and embedded volume controls.

Acland's offers the option to view the platform in English or Spanish, and it has a helpful search box on the home screen where users can enter keywords to jump to videos that match the search. There is a clear menu along the top of the home
screen that includes exams, a glossary of terms in
Greek, Latin, or Arabic, A-Z index of all videos in
the database arranged by anatomical terms, and an
about page.

Usability

This product is very easy to use and its home
screen is intuitive and simple. After accessing it
through an institution's web portal, users can
choose from five volumes that cover the upper
extremity, lower extremity, the trunk, the head
and neck, and the internal organs. This home
screen also gives the user the option to log in to
their personal account and doing so will bring up
their exam-taking history. However, not logging
in to a personal account will still allow users to
access all of the video content in Acland's.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Acland’s strengths include its simple platform,
self-directed learning features (such as exams and
video menus), clear and descriptive videos with
accessibility features (such as transcripts, closed
captioning, embedded volume controls, and
speed-up capabilities), and an A-Z index and
search box that let the user find what they need
fast.

This product has a few weaknesses. The first is
that Acland’s would appeal to more users if the
platform was available in languages other than
English and Spanish. A second weakness is that
the videos are dated in appearance, and they
remind the viewer of instructional tapes from the
late nineties. However, it is worth noting that the
video content is exceptional, therefore the quality
of the content far outweighs the videos’ aesthetic.
Lastly, Acland’s would be more appealing to
modern users if it was available as an app rather
than just being mobile optimized.

Comparison and Currency

While Acland's provides complete anatomical
coverage of the human body, there are other

interactive products on the market that teach these
concepts differently. Some of the main
competitors are Primal Pictures' Anatomy.tv,
Visible Body, and E-Anatomy. For the purposes
of this review these products will be compared
with Acland's.

Anatomy.tv allows viewers to see 360-degree
views of human anatomical structures, and it
breaks regions down into multiple layers starting
with the skeletal system and moving up to include
nerves, muscles, etc. It is completely self-directed,
and users can interact with the product in various
ways to facilitate learning. While it does not
appear to be available as an app, it is optimized to
be viewed on a tablet [3]. Visible Body offers 3D
models of the human body where users can
interact and dissect the region and see sliced
models in comparison to scans from real human
cadavers [4]. It is available in seven languages
and comes in app format so users have more
flexibility with how they access it. It also operates
in augmented reality [5], so 3D models can be
manipulated within a virtual space unlike other
products on the market. E-Anatomy is an
interactive human atlas that can be accessed
through your web browser or as an app. It is
available in multiple languages and includes exam
preparation materials. Looking at this product's
homepage, it appears that images are interactive
with a mix of labeled drawings, surgical video, as
well as MRI scans [6].

While these three products provide interactive
content that would be helpful for teaching or
learning anatomy, none appear to offer human
dissection in video format with voiceover
narration that way Acland’s does. However, two
of these products are available as a mobile app,
making them more in line with modern access
preferences when compared to Acland’s.

Conclusion

Acland's Video Atlas of Human Anatomy is a
standout product, as it gives anatomy instructors
and students the opportunity to view real human
cadaver dissections at multiple points in the
dissection process, while also hearing clear
descriptions of what the viewer is seeing.
Libraries that are looking to offer a flashier
product with technologically impressive features
or mobile app access may want to look elsewhere

in the market. However, if you want a simple,
accessible interface that focuses solely on human
dissection with detailed explanations that stand
the test of time, Acland's is the product for you.
<figure><img src="image_1.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 1:** Exam question with progress bar</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 2:** Landing screen in Acland's with menus and video collections by volume</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 3:** Screenshot of a video in Acland's.
On the left, a menu allows users to jump to a different section of the video. Accessibility features can also be seen on the video platform.</figcaption></figure>

## References

1. Phinney J. RE: Question regarding Acland's link sharing [Internet]. Message to: Kate Charron. 2020 Sept 16 [cited 2020 Sept 17]. [1 Line]

2. Phinney J. RE: Question regarding Acland's link sharing [Internet]. Message to: Kate Charron. 2020 Sept 21 [cited 2020 Sept 21]. [1 Line]

3. Informa PLC. FAQs. Anatomy.tv powered by Primal Pictures [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2020 Sept 16] Available from: https://www.anatomy.tv/faq

4. Visible Body. [Promo] Human Anatomy Atlas 2019 | Visible Body [Video File]. 2020 Nov 8 [cited 2020 Sept 16]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time CONTINUE=30&v=G_fjaqKftsQ&feature=emb_logo

5. Visible Body. Visible Body | Empowering a more complete understanding of the human

body [Video File]. 2020 April 23 [cited 2020 Sept 16]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCCxhR_Nh3Q

6. IMAIOS SAS. Anatomy. E-Anatomy the interactive atlas of human anatomy [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2020 Sept 16]. Available from: https://www.imaios.com/en/e-Anatomy/

## Statement of Competing Interests

No competing interests declared.

### Jackie Phinney

BA (Hons), MLIS
W.K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library, Dalhousie University (Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick)
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Email: j.phinney@dal.ca