Physical models of the foetus created using magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and ultrasound data: history, description, and potential uses.

Abstract

Improvements in the technology for non-invasive acquisition and visualization of images have brought about great advances in medicine, particularly in the diagnostic and prognostic assessments of foetal anomalies. In general, ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are two techniques that are used to acquire images of the foetus and uterus during pregnancy. The computed tomography (CT) also provides detailed foetal images, especially those of the foetal skeleton from the 30 week; however, its application is limited to the diagnosis of complex skeletal disorders because of the effects of ionizing radiation. The earliest attempts to graphically represent the foetus date back to the 15 century A.D. Artistic renderings from that period onwards can be found in museums and private collections worldwide. Leonardo da Vinci is among the artists who refined the quality of the foetus visual representation. By means of several anatomical studies, da Vinci illustrated the entire process of foetal development. The usage of physical models in medical teaching began in Italy during the Renaissance. At that time, highly realistic wax models began to be employed to accurately represent different parts of the human body, including changes in the bodies of pregnant women. The Florentine school also used models to teach anatomy, with the aim of dissemination of morphological and anatomical information without the need of the direct observation of a cadaver. Various models can still be observed in the permanent exhibition at La Specola, in the Museum of Zoology and Natural History in Florence, Italy, which was founded in 1775. Until the early 19 century, it was the only scientific museum specifically created for the general public. Another significant initiative occurred in France around 1778, when Madame Du Coudray designed and produced a set of teaching models made of different types of fabric and materials known as “La Machine”. These realistic examples of the mother-foetus couple were used in many villages for teaching and spreading information about the birth process.