Canine Skull Digitalization and Three-Dimensional Printing as an Educational Tool for Anatomical Study

Abstract

This article aims to standardize 3D scanning and printing of dog skulls for educational use and evaluate the effectiveness of these anatomical printed models for a veterinary anatomy course. Skulls were selected for scanning and creating 3D-printed models through Fused Deposition Modeling using acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. After a lecture on skull anatomy, the 3D-printed and real skull models were introduced during the practical bone class to 140 students. A bone anatomy practical test was conducted after a month; it consisted in identifying previously marked anatomical structures of the skull bones. The students were divided into two groups for the exam; the first group of students took the test on the real skulls, whereas the second group of students took the test on 3D-printed skulls. The students’ performance was evaluated using similar practical examination questions. At the end of the course, these students were asked to answer a brief questionnaire about their individual experiences. The results showed that the anatomical structures of the 3D-printed skulls were similar to the real skulls. There was no significant difference between the test scores of the students that did their test using the real skulls and those using 3D prints. In conclusion, it was possible to construct a dynamic and printed digital 3D collection for studies of the comparative anatomy of canine skull species from real skulls, suggesting that 3D-digitalized and-printed skulls can be used as tools in veterinary anatomy teaching.

Three-dimensional printing educational anatomical model of the patellar luxation in dogs

“…Studies in veterinary medicine courses support the use of 3D models as complementary tools in education [9,[21][22][23][24]. In our study, the 3D model was able to simulate different grades of medial patella luxation.…”

“…Three-dimensional (3D) printing, is a technology that has been applied in human medicine in recent years [1][2][3]. Used as an alternative to the use of animals in education and research, this technology also allows the anticipated knowledge of the conformation and anatomy of an organ or region of anatomical-clinical interest [4][5][6][7][8][9]. The study of the knee of dogs, as well as other regions, can also benefits of this technology, since we can analyze the structures that compose it and how they interact mechanically.…”

Polysulfone tailor-made implant for the surgical correction of a frontoparietal meningoencephalocoele in a cat

“…The implant was then created to fulfil adequate adaptation to the skull anatomy, physical and mechanical properties, volume to hold the tissue and good aesthetic results. Recently, three-dimensional printing has become increasingly popular in the veterinary community as models for teaching purposes, 22 – 24 and also in clinical neurosurgery as three-dimensionally printed titanium plates for cranioplasty in canine skull tumours; 25 three-dimensionally printed patient-specific drill guides for spinal deformities, 26 vertebral fractures 27 and atlanto-axial ventral stabilisation; 28 and imaging-based three-dimensionally printed stereotactic brain biopsy devices in dogs. 29 …”

Applications of 3‐dimensional printing in small‐animal surgery: A review of current practices

“…The use of 3D printing to teach anatomy seems most relevant to teach or test students on the surgical anatomy of complex structures (such as the heart, 9,14 inner ear, 9,14 and skull). 52 Among these, neuroanatomy seems an excellent candidate because the anatomy of the brain and spine challenges students, and exposing these tissues requires extensive dissection (Figure 3). Such dissection is time consuming and involves the use of sharp instruments, which may generate safety concerns in the hands of veterinary students.…”