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LEXINGTON, Va., Oct. 8, 2019鈥擳his fall, cadets are using a new tool that could only have been seen as science fiction when their parents were growing up.

The Anatomage Table, which is meant for the study of the human body and virtual dissection, is 鈥渒ind of like a giant iPad,鈥� explained Darren Ostrander 鈥�20, one of the first cadets to use the table. Ostrander, along with five other cadets, is enrolled in Col. Mike Krackow鈥檚 PE 274 class, human anatomy.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a small class, which is nice for the first time,鈥� commented Krackow, adding that he hopes interest in the class will grow as time goes by. Already, he鈥檚 heard from several cadets that they鈥檇 like to take the class, but it didn鈥檛 fit in their schedules.

An anatomy class said Krackow, 鈥渃omplements the exercise science minor,鈥� which has been in existence at VMI for approximately five years now. Krackow explained that before the anatomy class was offered, the only class even somewhat like it on post was comparative morphology, which the biology department offers.

The Anatomage Table offers an ultra-high-resolution 3-D visualization system to create a vivid picture of the body鈥檚 circulatory, nervous, and lymphatic systems, plus internal organs. It鈥檚 pre-loaded with four cadavers of both genders and varying ethnicities. What鈥檚 more, the individuals whose body images are used, all of whom donated their bodies to science, died of various diseases and the effects of their illnesses can be seen via virtual dissection.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really helpful, being able to see all of that stuff,鈥� noted Ostrander. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just like dissecting an actual person without having to do that. The graphics on it are really amazing. You can see every little fine detail.鈥�

Ostrander isn鈥檛 planning a medical career, but he鈥檚 still glad he took the class. 鈥淸Anatomy] is something everyone should know a little bit about,鈥� he commented.

On a broader scale, Krackow wants to let faculty members across post know that the table is available for use by their classes. 鈥淚t鈥檚 open to anybody,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 plan on using it in most of my classes.鈥�

Krackow also noted that the table fills a gap, as the Institute is too small to have a full-scale dissection lab, even for animals. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e saying virtual reality is the way to go,鈥� he stated. 鈥淔or the limited resources we have, this is excellent.鈥�

The table鈥檚 cost of just under $80,000 was paid for using funds from the Gottwald Academic Excellence Endowment.

 鈥� By Mary Price