A human body appears before the class, rotating in lifelike 3D detail. Muscles flex, veins intertwine, and organs pulse in motion. This is not a scene from science fiction but an everyday lesson at Saint Xavier University, where the Anatomage Table is transforming how students experience anatomy and medical science.
Purchased in 2018 for $70,000, the Anatomage Table uses real cadaveric data reconstructed into an interactive, life-sized 3D model. Built from frozen cadaver slices donated for research, each Anatomage Body has been meticulously segmented and digitally re-created to reflect the exact human form before death.
“The Anatomage Table provides a dynamic learning experience and there is a lot of flexibility in how we can use it,” said Eric Krasich, assistant professor of exercise science.
Originally used primarily in the now-dissolved Master’s in Medical Sciences program, the table now anchors a new multipurpose laboratory in the university’s nursing wing at 3700 W. 103rd St.
Completed over the summer, the high-tech space features wall-mounted televisions, a lecture-recording camera and projection capability, allowing lessons on the Anatomage Table to be broadcast in real time.
“We are able to record what we are doing on the Anatomage Table and project it live onto the screens,” Krasich said.
The table accommodates about six students at a time for hands-on exploration, while others can view the simulation live from their seats on large screens throughout the room.
Krasich, who received extensive Anatomage training in Florida, has integrated the technology into his lectures for the past two years. He said the table benefits a range of disciplines, including biology, exercise science, communication sciences and disorders, and nursing.
“It provides a 360-degree viewpoint of the human body,” he said. “The capabilities are endless.”
The Anatomage system includes five full-body human cadavers, including male, female, geriatric and pregnant, along with animal specimens. Students can examine every system in the body such as skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory and lymphatic.
Every anatomical detail is visualized with remarkable precision up to 0.5 millimeters, and the entire network of arteries, veins and capillaries is fully traced and functionally connected. Each digital cadaver contains thousands of annotated structures, allowing students to instantly identify and isolate any body part for study.
The Anatomage Table also simulates physiology, offering real-tissue motion during processes such as cardiac function, muscle movement, ocular motion, pregnancy and delivery. These simulations mirror how real tissues behave, enabling students to observe anatomy in action.
“This is extremely innovative and a wonderful learning tool,” said Charlene Bermele, DNP, RN, CNE, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. “We want the most sophisticated technology for our students.”
Saint Xavier will soon introduce virtual reality headsets to enhance the immersive experience, taking anatomical exploration to the next level.
Krasich said Saint Xavier is among a select number of universities nationwide offering this caliber of medical simulation technology.
“It gives students a curve who are going to be entering the medical field to have already worked with this equipment,” he said. “The simulations are done in a real-life setting.”
By merging innovation with education, Saint Xavier University continues to lead in hands-on, technology-driven health sciences learning, preparing students for the future of medicine one digital cadaver at a time.
