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This project aims to develop animated 3D educational
material to complement teaching methods for Medical and Health Sciences students
at The University of Auckland.
The current project is on the organisation and function of the kidney tubules,
expanding and building upon previous 3D animated models "The Kidney Filter" and
"The Organisation of the Kidney and its Role in Control of Blood Pressure".
The animation will complete our description of kidney organisation and provide a
framework to progress the software into an interactive and multidisciplinary package.
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Cells involved in blood pressure
control by the kidney.
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Teaching and
learning research
Learning research has shown that visualising processes in 3D is far more valuable
for long term memory retention than traditional methods.
Several small pilot studies with medical, science and pharmacy students have already
indicated that the kidney animations enable students to gain a better concept of
kidney structure, function and physiological processes compared with traditional
teaching methods.
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The kidney nephron.
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Primary cilia on cells of
the renal tubules.
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Understanding 3-Dimensional relationships
To obtain the information required to develop 3D images, investigation of kidney
structure at the gross and microscopic levels has been necessary.
In turn, knowledge gained from these animations will provide a greater understanding of:
The 3D relationship between epithelium and the connective tissue interstitium,
and their importance for the mechanisms of kidney rejection related to fibrosis.
The 3D nature of primary cilia on kidney epithelial cells and their relationship to kidney diseases. |
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Blood supply to nephrons
of the kidney.
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