Contrast Enhanced Imaging Approaches for Studying Vertebrate Form and Function

Abstract

Recent advances in imaging techniques have spurred numerous, exciting new lines of inquiry into animal form and function. Among these approaches, Diffusible Iodine Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (diceCT) using Iodine Potassium Iodide (I2KI, Lugol's Iodine) has been embraced by vertebrate morphologists as a non‐destructive, inexpensive, high resolution means to visualize soft tissue structures of animals. Here I present a series of examples illustrating how diceCT can be employed to investigate the form and function of the musculoskeletal system of vertebrates, as well as offer new avenues for outreach and education. Gross morphological patterns of nerve, vessel and muscle topology easily guide later dissections, surgeries and other destructive techniques. Muscle fiber architecture can be tracked using 3D computational methods and projected into ternary space to better determine muscle resultant vectors necessary for the development of biomechanical models. Volumes, positions, and attachments of muscles, aponeuroses, cartilages and other soft tissues can be readily calculated for comparative morphometric analyses. Finally, 3D models of reconstructed soft tissues can be rendered for dissemination and web hosting making them key tools for anatomical atlases, educational modules, and public consumption. The relative ease of these methods guarantee their widespread adoption by morphologists while the resulting data offer abundant new insights into vertebrate anatomy and evolution.Support or Funding InformationThis work was funded by NSF IOS 1457319, Missouri Research Board, Missouri Research Council, and the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences.