Background: Game-based learning (GBL) is effective for increasing participation, creativity, and student motivation. However, the discriminative value of GBL for knowledge acquisition has not yet been proven. The aim of this study is to assess the value of Kahoot! as a discriminative tool for formative assessment in medical education in two different subjects.Methods: A prospective experimental study was conducted on a sample of 173 students enrolled in neuroanatomy (2021–2022). One hundred twenty-five students individually completed the Kahoot! prior to the final exam. In addition, students enrolled in human histology during two academic courses were included in the study. The control group course (2018–2019) received a traditional teaching methodology (N = 211), while Kahoot! was implemented during 2020–2021 (N = 200). All students completed similar final exams for neuroanatomy and human histology based on theory tests and image exams.Results: The correlation between the Kahoot score and the final grade was analyzed for all students enrolled in neuroanatomy who completed both exercises. The correlation between the Kahoot exercise and the theory test, image exam and final grade was significantly positive in all cases (r = 0.334 p < 0.001, r = 0.278 p = 0.002 and r = 0.355 p < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, students who completed the Kahoot! exercise obtained significantly higher grades in all parts of the exam. Regarding human histology, the theory tests, image exams and final grades were significantly higher when using Kahoot! versus the “traditional” methodology (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.014, respectively).Conclusions: Our study demonstrates for the first time that Kahoot! can be used to improve and predict the final grade in medical education subjects.

Renal vascularization is classically described as a renal artery and vein. However, this vascular pattern presents numerous anatomical variations in terms of their number, origin and course due to ontogenetic alterations. The aim was to carry out a descriptive study of the renal vascular pattern observed during the dissection of cadavers intended for teaching purposes. A descriptive and observational study of renal vascular anatomy was carried out by dissecting 16 renal blocks from 8 cadavers donated to science and used for teaching at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zaragoza. The prevalence of arterial variations was 75% (56.3% for polar renal arteries, 12.5% for pre-hilar branching and 6.25% for double communicating arterial arch) and venous was 62.5% (12.5% for polar renal veins, 25% for late venous confluence, 6.25% for triple renal vein and 18.75% for double circumaortic renal vein). We conclude that the renal vascular anomalies occur with high frequency; for this reason, knowledge of these anomalies is extremely important for the correct planning of numerous medical-surgical activities. Renal vascularization is classically described as a renal artery and vein. However, this vascular pattern presents numerous anatomical variations in terms of their number, origin and course due to ontogenetic alterations. The aim was to carry out a descriptive study of the renal vascular pattern observed during the dissection of cadavers intended for teaching purposes. A descriptive and observational study of renal vascular anatomy was carried out by dissecting 16 renal blocks from 8 cadavers donated to science and used for teaching at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zaragoza. The prevalence of arterial variations was 75% (56.3% for polar renal arteries, 12.5% for pre-hilar branching and 6.25% for double communicating arterial arch) and venous was 62.5% (12.5% for polar renal veins, 25% for late venous confluence, 6.25% for triple renal vein and 18.75% for double circumaortic renal vein). We conclude that the renal vascular anomalies occur with high frequency; for this reason, knowledge of these anomalies is extremely important for the correct planning of numerous medical-surgical activities.

Background: The study of the association between superior semicircular canal and other dehiscences in the temporal bone. Materials and methods: We have studied computed tomography of radiologically diagnosed people with superior or posterior semicircular canal dehiscences, in four health centres. In addition, we have studied one isolated human temporal bone, one skull and one cadaver head belonging to the collection of the Department of Human Anatomy and Histology of the University of Zaragoza that had dehiscence in the superior semicircular canal. Results: The most frequent association that we observed was between superior semicircular canal dehiscence and tegmen tympani dehiscence (37.33%). Three cases (two clinical cases and one isolated temporal bone) showed multiple associated dehiscences (tegmen tympani, mastoid antrum, posterior semicircular canal, internal auditory canal, glenoid cavity, tympanum bone and geniculate ganglion) associated with superior semicircular canal dehiscence Conclusions: When the superior semicircular canal dehiscence is associated to other in the petrous bone (tegmen tympani, mastoid antrum, posterior semicircular canal, internal auditory canal…) could be grouped into the same syndrome called “otic capsule syndrome”, since they have the same origin and common etiology (otic capsule). Background: The study of the association between superior semicircular canal and other dehiscences in the temporal bone. Materials and methods: We have studied computed tomography of radiologically diagnosed people with superior or posterior semicircular canal dehiscences, in four health centres. In addition, we have studied one isolated human temporal bone, one skull and one cadaver head belonging to the collection of the Department of Human Anatomy and Histology of the University of Zaragoza that had dehiscence in the superior semicircular canal. Results: The most frequent association that we observed was between superior semicircular canal dehiscence and tegmen tympani dehiscence (37.33%). Three cases (two clinical cases and one isolated temporal bone) showed multiple associated dehiscences (tegmen tympani, mastoid antrum, posterior semicircular canal, internal auditory canal, glenoid cavity, tympanum bone and geniculate ganglion) associated with superior semicircular canal dehiscence Conclusions: When the superior semicircular canal dehiscence is associated to other in the petrous bone (tegmen tympani, mastoid antrum, posterior semicircular canal, internal auditory canal…) could be grouped into the same syndrome called “otic capsule syndrome”, since they have the same origin and common etiology (otic capsule).

Conclusion: At the time of birth, the incudo-mallear joint is completely developed. Objective. To study the development of the incudo-mallear joint in human embryos and fetuses. Materials and methods. In all, 46 temporal bones with ages between 9 mm and newborns were studied. The preparations were cut in a series and dyed using Martins’ trichrome technique. Results. The incudo-mallear joint acquires the characteristics of a saddle joint at 10 weeks of development. The cartilage that covers the articular surfaces is formed by different strata that develop successively: the superficial stratum at 14 weeks, the transitional between 15 and 19 weeks, and the radial from 20 weeks. The subchondral bone develops between weeks 25 and 28 by the mechanisms of apposition and extension of the periosteal and endosteal bones, but it is not until week 30 that it completely covers the articular surfaces, consisting of bone fascicles whereby the lines of force will be transmitted. The articular capsule is formed as from the inter-zone. The surface zone develops the capsular ligament, and the internal surface develops the synovial membrane. Even though it is not consistent, the primordium of the meniscus is seen at 18 weeks.