Applications and Benefits of Augmented Reality in Medical Training

Medical education faces challenges in teaching complex concepts and acquiring clinical skills. In this context, augmented reality has emerged as an innovative tool, enabling interactive visualization of anatomical structures and simulation of clinical procedures. However, its widespread implementation still faces barriers in terms of accessibility and costs, limiting its use in various educational institutions. This study presents a systematic literature review on the impact of augmented reality in medical education, analyzing experimental studies, systematic reviews, and empirical analyses published between 2010 and 2024. Articles from PubMed, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore were evaluated, selecting 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The results indicate that this technology significantly enhances knowledge retention (up to 75%), optimizes the understanding of human anatomy, and facilitates the teaching of clinical procedures without posing risks to patients. Applications such as Cranium and the use of Microsoft HoloLens have demonstrated benefits in the three-dimensional visualization of bone structures and surgical planning. Additionally, augmented reality has proven effective in nutritional education and cellular biology learning, expanding its applicability in health sciences. Augmented reality represents a significant advancement in medical training, although accessibility and costs remain challenges to be addressed. The integration of artificial intelligence and the development of open-source platforms are recommended to enhance its impact on global medical education. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.