Next‐generation teaching of microscopic anatomy based on a comprehensive collection of high‐resolution, three‐dimensional (3D), focusable histologic virtual slides
Authors: Frank Hans‐Georg , Milz Stefan , Mayerhofer Artur , Schmitz Christoph 
Published: June 2021

Background

Traditional teaching, studying and learning of microscopic anatomy using standard brightfield microscopes has not kept pace with a number of important developments in modern microscopy, including the use of immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and confocal microscopy. A potential solution to this problem is the use of whole slide images, also known as “virtual slides”, which are digital representations in high optical resolution of entire histologic sections or a region of interest within such a section. However, two‐dimensional (2D) virtual slides do not reproduce the experience of imaging histologic sections with a regular microscope because they do not allow to focus through the digitized slides.

Material and methods

The Medical School at Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich (LMU; Munich, Germany) is among the largest medical schools in the world (>900 admissions per study year). We have generated a comprehensive collection of >250 high resolution, 3D, focusable virtual slides (up to >100 GB per virtual slide) over the last years, encompassing almost all organs of the body. These virtual slides are served to >100 students simultaneously using Biolucida (MBF Bioscience, Williston, VT). Biolucida is installed on a server running CentOS 7, is accessed exclusively via the Biolucida Viewer application, and is only available to client computers connected directly to the server. This direct connection allows students to view the 3D virtual slides efficiently while preventing the possibility of external access to private educational material. This approach also guarantees full compliance with HIPAA requirements as both surgical specimens from patients of the University Hospital of Munich and post mortem specimens from body donors can be used for teaching. The students' experience is documented in regular evaluations by the medical school of LMU.

Results

Creating this unique collection of high resolution, 3D virtual slides has allowed to implement a highly innovative, unprecedented next‐generation teaching, studying and learning experience of microscopic anatomy at LMU, making use of traditional brightfield microscopy as well as immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and confocal microscopy. Students immediately adopted this new experience in studying and learning microscopic anatomy. The new concept is excellently accepted in evaluations.

Conclusions

High‐resolution, 3D, focusable virtual slides serve as a useful tool for next‐generation teaching, studying and learning of microscopic anatomy by making use of both traditional standard brightfield microscopy as well as all developments in modern microscopy, including immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and confocal microscopy. We have decided to provide our entire collection of high‐resolution, 3D, focusable virtual slides to the American Association of Anatomists' Virtual Microscope Database (www.virtualmicroscopydatabase.org) that is also making use of Biolucida.

Support or Funding Information

This project has not received any financial support or funding from outside LMU.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.