3D Model of Cervical Nerves Created

Chinese investigators have developed a three-dimensional (3D) digital visualization model of healthy human cervical nerves, which should overcome the drawbacks of milling, avoids data loss, and exhibits a realistic appearance and 3D image. Furthermore, vivid images from various angles can be observed due to negligible pattern distortion.

This model revealed the morphology, distribution, and spatial relations of the major nerves of the neck, and provided 3D morphologic data for anatomic teaching and morphologic observation of regenerated nerves, nerve block anesthesia, and surgery.

High-resolution multilayer computed tomography (CT) and 3.0T superconducting magnetic resonance (MRI) myelography are known to obtain a more comprehensive and continuous two-dimensional original data. Three-dimensional reconstruction nerve models are classically obtained from two-dimensional images of “visible human” frozen sections. However, because of the flexibility of nerve tissues and small color differences compared with surrounding tissues, the integrity and validity of nerve tissues can be impaired during milling.

Dr. Jiaming Fu and colleagues from 98th Hospital of Chinese PLA (Huzhou, Zhejiang, China) reported that their findings are slated to be published in the journal Neural Regeneration Research (2013; vol. 8, no. 20).