Collection, Analysis, and Distribution of Three-Dimensional CT Data from Primate and Other Skull Specimens

Abstract

We propose a method for obtaining three-dimensional digitized morphology using skull collections from natural history museums. The skull specimens are three-dimensionally digitized by computed tomography (CT), and the original morphological data is stored on a hard disk or server in the natural history museum. The data can be used to morphologically observe and describe the skulls in detail. The skulls can be examined freely from any viewing angle and can be partially removed for nondestructive observations of the inner structure of the specimens. It is possible to quantitatively analyze the form and function of the skulls by using the three-dimensional coordinates. For example the visual system can be functional-morphologically examined in each species by using the three-dimensional coordinates structurally related to orbits or optic nerves. The data were installed as DICOM-standard formatted files, and could be converted to polygonal data using available software. The three-dimensional data can be used in the following manners: (1) volume rendering from voxel data of DICOM-formatted files for qualitative observations of the specimens, and (2) conversion of the DICOM-formatted files to polygonal data for fine osteometry, computer graphics, and artistic design. The DICOM-formatted data can be accessed freely via the internet by users worldwide.