Manufacture of the Serially Sectioned Images of the Whole Body (Fifth Report: Methods for Manufacture of the Three Dimensional Images and Virtual Dissection Software)

Abstract

To be helpful in medical education, anatomical images were made by serial sectioning of the Korean cadaver´s whole body at 0.2 mm intervals. Successively, segmented images were made by outline drawing of thirteen anatomical structures on the anatomical images. First purpose of this research is to verify that anatomical and segmented images are correct by means of the virtual dissection of 3D (three dimensional) images, which are made of the anatomical and segmented images. Second purpose is to verify that the virtual dissection is helpful in studying anatomy-

A 3D anatomical image -and a 3D segmented image were made by stacking the anatomical and segmented images and subsequently by volume reconstructing after both intervals and pixel size of the anatomical and segmented images were reduced to be 1 mm Virtual dissection software, on which the 3D anatomical and 3D segmented images could be sectioned at free angles, and the 3D anatomical images of the several anatomical structures could be selected to display referring to the 3D segmented image and could be rotated at the free angles, was made.

As the result of this research, corresponding 3D anatomical and 3D segmented images (resolution 494 x 282 x 1,702) were prepared; and virtual dissection software, which could be conveniently operated on the personal computer, was prepared. On the virtual dissection software, stereoscopic shape and location of the anatomical structures were corresponding to anatomical knowledge, so that the anatomical and segmented images were verified to be correct. The virtual dissection software was verified to be helpful in studying stereoscopic shape and location of the anatomical structures. If the anatomical images, segmented images, 3D images, and virtual dissection software made in this research are distributed worldwide, they will help not only medical students and doctors study anatomy but also other researchers make better segmented images, 3D images, and virtual dissection software.