Objective　To explore the application and effect of three-dimensional animation teaching software combined with case based learning（CBL） in inguinal hernia clinical teaching. Methods　Totally 30 eight-year program students of Grade 2008 of Peking University People's Hos-pital were randomly divided into the teaching software combined with the CBL group（n=1５） and tradi-tional teaching group（n=1５）. Three-dimensional animation teaching software was used to simulate the whole process of inguinal hernia anatomy and physiology， pathogenesis， clinical manifestations， diag-nosis and treatment in teaching software combined with CBL group. CBL teaching was conducted by setting problems through typical case and case discussion under the guidance of the teacher. The teacher-centered teaching， teaching rounds and watching operation were used in the traditional teaching group. Theory examination and physical examination were given at the end of the study and achieve-ment differences were compared between 2 groups． Questionnaire was used to investigate students' evaluation of the teaching method in teaching software combined with the CBL group and data were statistically described using t test. Results　Theoretical exam score of the teaching software combined with the CBL group was （94.80±1.54）， superior to the traditional teaching group（86.10±1.86）， and the difference was statistically significant（t=8.242， P=0.000）. Clinical skill test score of the teaching software combined with the CBL group was （91.10±1.01）， superior to the traditional teaching group （85.90±2.17）， and the difference was statistically significant（t=8.531， P=0.000）. The survey result showed that more than 80.00% students thought that this teaching method could arouse students' learning enthusiasm， promote their mastery and application of knowledge， strengthen their self-study ability， cultivating their clinical thinking and improving their learning efficiency. Conclusion　The teaching method of three dimensional animation teaching software combined with CBL， as a new teaching mode， helps to improve the quality of teaching.