A Novel Immersive Anatomy Education System (_Anat Hub_): Redefining Blended Learning for the Musculoskeletal System  
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1 Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, Cape Town 7535, South Africa; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.B.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (K.A.F.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.C.C.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (B.A.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (N.Y.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (S.G.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.L.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.D.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (N.M.); [PERSON]RESS] (D.L.d.L.S); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (N.P.); 37 [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (N.M.); 37 [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (R.C.M.K.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.S.); 37 [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (N.P.); 37 [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (N.Y.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (B.A.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (N.Y.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (S.G.); 3682  
desired educational outcomes. These challenges, which are magnified in under-resourced settings, include limited practical hours for learners and qualified instructors, limited access to and high cost of cadavers and artificial models, as well as large amounts of content with complex nomenclature that students are expected to grasp using supplementary resources [3]. Anatomy learning heavily relies on the visualization of structures, and the use of blended learning has the potential to alleviate such challenges and promote the importance of using alternative interventions in traditional teaching and learning [4].  
Blended learning involves the combination of different learning methods, new technologies, and activities that combine traditional face-to-face teaching methods with authentic online methodologies [5]. In recent years, the majority of existing literature on how to enhance anatomy learning by means of augmented reality (AR) implementation focused on new curriculum approaches and theoretical frameworks to improve academic performance (e.g., blended learning) [5; 6; 7; 8], the introduction of new teaching tools [9; 10; 11; 12; 13], and challenging factors encountered by the anatomy discipline and how to solve them [3; 4]. The use of immersive technology (virtual reality (VR), AR, and mixed reality (MR)) in blended learning has great potential to effectively address the aforementioned challenges. Benefits include the practical exploration of theory through a combination of multimedia information, where students can visualise and grasp difficult theoretical concepts and naturally interact with multimedia representations of teaching materials in a fun, compelling and engaging manner [14]. However, the use and adoption of immersive technologies in blended anatomy education (particularly for the musculoskeletal system--which is key in supporting locomotion and protecting vital organs) remains relatively understudied, potentially due to the newness of AR technology at higher education institutions on the African continent [15; 16]. Hence, this research developed an immersive anatomy learning platform (coined _AntalHub_), which focuses on the musculoskeletal system using AR. The aim of the developed system was to allow users to learn how to isolate various anatomical structures of the upper and lower limbs by offering an engaging platform and features such as AR mode, 3D mode, a glossary, and a quiz. The developed system was then tested with undergraduate anatomy students to prove its relevance and viability.  
The remainder of the paper is organised as follows: Section 2 presents the related literature on anatomy education and further establishes the novelty in this research, Section 3 discusses the design methodology and implementation approaches adopted in this study, Section 4 reports on the results, and Section 5 summarises and concludes the paper.