1. Introducing the simulationOverview

In textbooks, drawings of the skeleton are often 2D, making it difficult to visualize the depth,
orientation, and how the bones articulate. This 3D simulation allows you to
view the skeleton from every angle, clearly seeing each part and the symmetry of the body.

The main bone groups in the simulation:

The standout feature is the feeling of “holding the entire skeleton in your hands” –
you rotate and explore independently, instead of just viewing a fixed image.

2. Foundational KnowledgeCore Idea

The human skeleton has two major parts:

• Axial Skeleton: consists of the skull, spinal column, ribs, sternum – which support and protect vital organs (brain, spinal cord, heart, lungs, etc.).
• Appendicular Skeleton: consists of arm bones, leg bones, shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle – which allow the body to move and manipulate objects.

When studying the skeletal structure, it is crucial to grasp bone names – location – type of joint
and understand why they are arranged in such a way that the body is both sturdy and flexible.

3. Goals of the simulationLearning Goals

The simulation helps the learner to:

• Identify and correctly name the main bones: skull, spinal column (or spine), ribs, pelvis (or hip bone), femur, humerus, etc.
• Clearly see the division between the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton.
• Understand how the joints (shoulder joint, elbow joint, knee joint, wrist joint, ankle joint, etc.) create movement.
• Memorize the shape and proportions of the human body through 3D imagery.

4. How to learn with the simulationHow to Learn

• Rotate & Zoom: use the mouse/touchscreen to rotate the model, zoom in on specific areas (skull, chest, arms, legs, etc.).
• Select Bone Group: turn on/off groups such as “Skull,” “Spine,” “Rib cage,” “Upper limb,” and “Lower limb.”
• Color-Code for Differentiation: enter Paint mode $\rightarrow$ select different colors for the axial and appendicular skeletons.
• Read Bone Name: when you click on a bone, view the Vietnamese – English names to familiarize yourself with the terminology.
• Reset: use the Reset camera button to return to the overall view of the skeleton.

Tip: color-code the axial skeleton one color and the appendicular skeleton another color $\rightarrow$ you will immediately see the "two-part model" of the skeleton.

5. Representative activitiesExamples

You can perform the following activities when learning with the simulation:

• Count Vertebrae: observe the spine and differentiate the cervical – thoracic – lumbar segments.
• Path of Force: trace the path from the skull →spine → pelvis → femur to understand how the body bears weight.
• Match Joint Types: identify which are ball-and-socket joints (shoulder, hip) and which are hinge joints (elbow, knee, etc.).

6. Expected OutcomesOutcome

After learning with the simulation, the learner can:

• Correctly name and accurately point to the location of important bones on the model and in the textbook image.
• Clearly differentiate the axial skeleton – appendicular skeleton and the major joints.
• Understand why the skeletal structure helps the body to be both stable and capable of flexible movement.
• Greater confidence in completing exercises and presenting on the topic of human skeletal anatomy.