Computer morphing of scanning electron micrographs: an adjunct to embryology teaching

Traditional embryology courses demand considerable expenditure of time and effort from students to master the spatial awareness skills necessary to create three-dimensional mental images from two-dimensional serial sections. Then students must imagine a movie sequence of the changes which take place during normal development. Further steps are required to relate this information to the clinical situation. As more medical and dental schools move towards problem-based curricula, more efficient methods of improving understanding of embryology are needed. The development of many organs can be studied using scanning electron micrographs of embryos at different ages. These high quality images are more easily interpreted by our students than histological sections and the understanding achieved more readily applied to clinical problems. Still more beneficial would be the provision of moving images showing the actual changes happening. We decided to use computer morphing techniques to prepare movie sequences showing development of the face and plate. For each, four scanning electron micrographs of appropriately-sized sheep embryo heads were taken at the same magnification and orientation to use as start and end points of morphing sequences. After using retouching techniques to colour the separate processes, further sequences were prepared. The discipline of maintaining the same magnification throughout and the possibility of directly observing changes between stages revealed some surprising growth patterns. This technique is adaptable to any area of biological development where pre- and post-illustrations are available. Animations can be presented on computer or on video and incorporated into programs. Student feedback has been very favourable.