Neuroanatomy is notoriously tricky to learn as the complex 3D structures are often taught using 2D graphics in textbooks and lectures which can be difficult to imagine from multiple angles. Time in lab is often limited as are resources and it is rare that a brainstem is available for dissection. For this reason students are typically offered enlarged plastic models to examine but this is also limited as the external structures are of greatest focus. This graphic shows how the many pathways of cranial nerves and nerve nuclei are often obscured internally as well as the difference in cross sections dependent on whether you are examining an upper, mid or lower segment.
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The nerves and nerve nuclei are much like noodles and orbs within the structure of the brainstem and without an external reference anchor it can be difficult to place their location and function. This prebuilt transparent brainstem and nerves demonstrates the shortcomings of not having a solid bearing on what external structure the internal nerves lie within. The internal structures appear to just be floating. An opaque external layer seems most preferable as demonstrated with the bee model referenced in another blog post.
The first step of this project was using the Artec Space Spider to scan of the common Warner-Chilcott plastic model of the brainstem used in anatomy courses at Penn State (process further described in blog pt. I & blog pt II ). It will serve as the exterior casing of the internal structures. The knife tool was used to create spline cuts dissecting the model and filling the empty space through Mesh >Close Polygon Hole vertically into slices to represent cross sections that fold out like a stack of drawers.
Each segment is intended to be able to be examined independently in AR with labels and without for easy learning and self-quizzing. This will be achieved through using two models loaded into the Aero desktop beta with a behavior applied to switch between the two models at the users tap.
Previously these texture were able to be easily exported as illustrator v8 files but there have been changes since the most recent version. Individual paths can be assembled and converted to splines and extruded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbEbMrMWW7c
The material was made as a vector image in Adobe Illustrator and applied to these 3D slices in Adobe Substance 3D Painter.
When complete the augmented reality brainstem model will have a vertical anchor attached to the canvas painting that accompanies it in the hallway at the C.I.E. accessible via QR code scanning.
We have designed options to not only toggle labels on/off but also to toggle between color coded illustrations and photographic versions of stained cross sections.
https://brain.oit.duke.edu/lab03/lab03.html