Establishment of a three-dimensional model of the posterior skull fossae based on ultra-thin section specimen

Abstract

Objective To establish a three-dimensional model of posterior skull fossae in order to help neurosurgeons to master the anatomical characteristics of posterior cranial fossae. Methods The preparations of 2 adult skull fault specimens were completed by using the freezing milling technique. The calibration, extraction and three-dimensional reconstruction of head serial thin sections were performed by using computers in order to obtain the three-dimensional images of the related structures in the posterior cranial fossae. Results A total of 854 coronal sections and 353 horizontal sections associated with posterior fossae were obtained successfully. On the 2 sets of sections, the anatomical structures such as nerves and blood vessels could be tracked dynamically. The morphology of the three-dimensional model of posterior cranial fossae reconstructed was lifelike, including brain stem, cerebellum, vertebral-basilar artery, and cranial nerve Ⅲ~Ⅻ. The three-dimensional model could be rotated arbitrarily, scaled, and splitted randomly. Conclusions The three-dimensional model of the posterior cranial fossae can be induced by means of the freezing milling technique and visually display the stereoanatomic relationship of the posterior cranial fossa structure, thereby increasing clinicians understand the anatomical relationship of the region. This model can be used as a teaching courseware, and it can also be used as the basis for the selection of operative approach and the tool for simulating the operation process. Key words: Cranial fossa, posterior; Anatomy, cross-sectional; Imaging, three-dimensional