J Korean Med Sci.  2019 Sep;34(34):e218. 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e218.

Advanced Sectioned Images of a Cadaver Head with Voxel Size of 0.04 mm

• Chung BS
• Han M
• Har D
• Park JS

• KMID: 2455781
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e218

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The sectioned images of a cadaver head made from the Visible Korean project have been used for research and educational purposes. However, the image resolution is insufficient to observe detailed structures suitable for experts. In this study, advanced sectioned images with higher resolution were produced for the identification of more detailed structures.
METHODS
The head of a donated female cadaver was scanned for 3 Tesla magnetic resonance images and diffusion tensor images (DTIs). After the head was frozen, the head was sectioned serially at 0.04-mm intervals and photographed repeatedly using a digital camera.
RESULTS
On the resulting 4,000 sectioned images (intervals and pixel size, 0.04 mm³; color depth, 48 bits color; a file size, 288 Mbytes), minute brain structures, which can be observed not on previous sectioned images but on microscopic slides, were observed. The voxel size of this study (0.04 mm³) was very minute compared to our previous study (0.1 mm³; resolution, 4,368 × 2,912) and Visible Human Project of the USA (0.33 mm³; resolution, 2,048 × 2,048). Furthermore, the sectioned images were combined with tractography of the DTIs to elucidate the white matter with high resolution and the actual color of the tissue.
CONCLUSION
The sectioned images will be used for diverse research, including the applications for the cross sectional anatomy and three-dimensional models for virtual experiments.

Keyword

Cadaver; Cross-Sectional Anatomy; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Head; Visible Human Project

MeSH Terms

Anatomy, Cross-Sectional
Brain
Cadaver*
Diffusion
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Female
Head*
Humans
White Matter