The objective of this research was to present high-quality sectioned images of a whole female body which would be helpful in creating an atlas, virtual dissection, and various applications for medical education and clinical trial. In addition, the authors sought to demonstrate the applicabilities of sectioned images. A female cadaver was ground serially using the cryomacrotome and photographed to make the sectioned images. Structures in the images were segmented to produce segmented images in Photoshop. In the self-developed browsing software, the sectioned and segmented images were stored. Based on the segmented images, surface models were built on commercial software and saved as PDF file. High-quality sectioned images of the female body were taken (intervals, 0.2 mm or 1 mm; pixel size, 0.1 mm; color depth, 48 bit color). In the images obtained, very small and complicated structures could be identified in color of living body. In order to ascertain the applicability of the images, the browsing software including sectioned and segmented images and the PDF file including surface models were produced. The sectioned images and surface models produced during this research will prove to be a useful source for medical software. All data generated is available free of charge.

The sectioned images and surface models of a cadaver head in the Visible Korean Project would be more beneficial if they were accessible and informative. To this aim, 3 policies were established: (1) the data are promptly obtainable and observable; (2) the graphic data are accompanied by explaining the anatomic terms; and (3) two-dimensional images and three-dimensional models are shown together. According to the policies, the following were attempted. Two hundred thirty-five couples of sectioned images and outlined images (intervals, 1 mm) of the head were prepared. Browsing software was developed where the 2 corresponding images were displayed simultaneously. In addition, the structures in the images were recognized with the aid of automatic labeling. From the outlined images, surface models of 178 head structures were constructed. The two-dimensional surface models including the sectioned images were embedded into the three-dimensional surface models. All the models were categorized into systems and arranged to be inputted to a PDF (portable document format) file. The finalized PDF file containing comprehensive head data could be explored on Adobe Reader. If the user clicked on the surface models, their anatomic names were highlighted. The sectioned images, outlined images, and surface models in the browsing software and PDF file can be downloaded from the homepage (anatomy.co.kr) free of charge. The state-of-the-art graphic information will hopefully assist medical students in learning head anatomy. In addition, the raw data are expected to contribute to the various clinical practice simulations.

Chung BS, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2016 Sep;31(9):1455-1463. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2016.31.9.1455

In our previous research, we created state‐of‐the‐art sectioned images, color‐coded images, and surface models of the human ear. Our ear data would be more beneficial and informative if they were more easily accessible. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to distribute the browsing software and the PDF file in which ear images are to be readily obtainable and freely explored. Another goal was to inform other researchers of our methods for establishing the browsing software and the PDF file. To achieve this, sectioned images and color‐coded images of ear were prepared (voxel size 0.1 mm). In the color‐coded images, structures related to hearing, equilibrium, and structures originated from the first and second pharyngeal arches were segmented supplementarily. The sectioned and color‐coded images of right ear were added to the browsing software, which displayed the images serially along with structure names. The surface models were reconstructed to be combined into the PDF file where they could be freely manipulated. Using the browsing software and PDF file, sectional and three‐dimensional shapes of ear structures could be comprehended in detail. Furthermore, using the PDF file, clinical knowledge could be identified through virtual otoscopy. Therefore, the presented educational tools will be helpful to medical students and otologists by improving their knowledge of ear anatomy. The browsing software and PDF file can be downloaded without charge and registration at our homepage (http://anatomy.dongguk.ac.kr/ear/). Anat Rec, 2013.

Chung BS, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2019 Mar;34(10):e86. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e86

The structure of the ear, which intervenes between gross anatomy and histology in size, can be best understood by means of three‐dimensional (3D) surface models on a computer. Furthermore, surface models are the source of interactive simulation for clinical trials, such as tympanoplasty. The objective of this research was to elaborate the surface models of detailed ear structures, which contribute to learning anatomy or the practice of otology. We produced sectioned images of a cadaver head (pixel size, 0.1 mm; 48‐bit color). In the sectioned images, the external, middle, and internal ear structures and other related components were delineated on Photoshop to acquire segmented images at 0.5‐mm intervals. Segmented images of each structure were stacked, and the surface was reconstructed to generate a 3D‐surface model on commercial software. Thirty surface models showed fine ear topographic anatomy (e.g., semicircular ducts), as expected. Herein, we present the corresponding sectioned images, segmented images, and surface models of ear structures that will be released together. It is hoped that these image data will stimulate the development of medical simulations. The efficient technique of segmentation and surface reconstruction enables the manufacture of surface models from other serial images (e.g., CTs and MRIs). Anat Rec, 2011.