Background We developed a novel, low-cost pork belly model for simulation training in ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block among anesthesiology residents. The aim of this study was to investigate its effectiveness in clinical teaching.Methods Thirty anesthesiology residents underwent simulation-based training for ultrasound-guided TAP block. They were allocated to a traditional training group (Group A, n = 15) or a pork belly model simulation training group (Group B, n = 15). Residents in both Group A and Group B received identical theoretical training on ultrasound-guided TAP block. However, residents in Group B additionally underwent simulation training using a pork belly model. Subsequently, all residents performed two TAP block procedures on surgical patients under the supervision of clinical instructors. Finally, each resident was required to independently perform one TAP block procedure, and their entire operational process was evaluated using a standardized scoring scale by instructors who were unaware of the group assignments. Additionally, before and after the training session, all residents were required to complete a subjective questionnaire using a Likert scale to self-assess their general knowledge of abdominal ultrasound, their understanding of TAP blocks, and their confidence in performing TAP blocks.Results Group B demonstrated significant advantages over Group A across multiple metrics. Self-evaluations indicated that anesthesiology residents in Group B showed marked improvement in several dimensions, including procedural skill performance and confidence in performing TAP blocks (p < 0.05). These findings were further corroborated by the standardized scoring results, which revealed that Group B physicians exhibited superior ultrasound technique, particularly in terms of ultrasound image quality (p < 0.001) and needle visualization (p < 0.001). Moreover, Group B achieved significantly shorter procedure times (201s vs. 276s, p = 0.002) and a notably higher success rate for procedures performed independently by residents (93.3% vs. 26.7%, p < 0.001).Conclusions This novel pork belly model serves as a relatively effective tool for simulation-based training in ultrasound-guided TAP block among resident physicians.