3D printing the pterygopalatine fossa: a negative space model of a complex structure

Area of Science:

• Anatomical modeling
• Medical education technology
• 3D printing applications

Background:

• The pterygopalatine fossa presents significant challenges for anatomical study due to poor visualization in traditional methods.
• Existing anatomical resources often rely on schematic diagrams, limiting comprehensive understanding of this complex region.
• There is a need for accessible, tangible models to improve learning of intricate anatomical structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a method for creating an affordable, 3D printed model of the pterygopalatine fossa.
• To include associated canals and foramina within the 3D model for enhanced anatomical detail.
• To utilize desktop 3D printing technology for accessible anatomical model creation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized open-source software to generate a volume rendering of the pterygopalatine fossa from CT scan data.
• Employed axial slices from a head computerized tomography (CT) scan as the source data.
• Exported the digital model for fabrication using a standard 3D printer.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced an anatomically accurate, 'negative space' 3D model of the pterygopalatine fossa.
• The model effectively illustrates the complex anatomical relationships within the pterygopalatine fossa.
• This 3D model serves as a valuable and innovative educational tool.

Conclusions:

• The 3D pterygopalatine fossa model is primarily intended for medical students.
• The model is also relevant for postgraduate training in ENT, ophthalmology, neurosurgery, and radiology.
• The described low-cost technical process is replicable by other institutions for anatomical model development.