In this study, six adult feline cadavers were examined using CTA, 3D printing, and casts injected with epoxy. The aorta, the portal vein, and the gallbladder of 3 feline cadavers were separately injected with a 50% mixture of colored vulcanized latex and hydrated barium sulfate as contrast medium to analyze by CT the arterial, venous and biliary systems. The other three cadavers were injected with a mixture of epoxy resin in the aorta, gallbladder and hepatic veins, separately. After the corrosion and washing process, hepatic vascular and biliary casts were obtained. The images obtained by CT showed the vascular and biliary system using a soft tissue window. For the identification of vascular and biliary structures, the 3D prints together with the 3D reconstructions were analyzed, and the results were compared with the casts obtained with epoxy resin. Each of the arterial, venous and biliary branches associated with each of the liver lobes were identified with the help of the printings. In conclusion, the creation of 3D prototypes of nonpathological feline hepatic parenchyma can be used in the veterinary clinic as a basis for the detection of pathological problems in addition to obtaining future pathological hepatic 3D models.

This work aims to evaluate students’ opinions on the materials normally used in anatomy practical classes (fixed and plastinated) compared to 3D anatomical prints. For this purpose, students of anatomy enrolled in the Degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Murcia filled out a satisfaction survey about both kinds of material. The students rated the fixed material with a satisfaction percentage close to 100% and the plastinated material with a percentage higher than 75%. Regarding the 3D prints, the percentage obtained was consistently higher than 50% except for two issues: the identification of the vascular structures of the dolphin’s head and the usefulness for surgery of the viscera and vascular structures of the cat, both of which scored less than 50%. This could be related to the lesser knowledge of dolphins of the veterinary students as well as the complexity of these structures. However, the other questions, such as usefulness for learning and exam preparation, the quality of the anatomical piece, the identification of the feline spleen and kidneys, etc. obtained a satisfaction percentage between 58 and 90.40%. This reflects the good acceptance by students of the 3D prints and may allow for a reduction in the number of cadavers used.

This study describes the anatomical characteristics of the abdominal and pelvic vascular system of two healthy mature female cats via three-dimensional contrast enhanced computed tomography angiography, non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography and three-dimensional printing. Volume-rendering computed tomography angiography images were acquired from the ventral aspect using RadiAnt, Amira and OsiriX MD Dicom three-dimensional formats, and three-dimensional printing was obtained and compared with the corresponding computed tomography angiography images. Non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography was made using the time-of-flight imaging in ventral, oblique and lateral views. In addition, three cadavers with colored latex injection were dissected to facilitate the identification of the vascular structures. Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography showed the main vascular structures, whereas with the time-of-flight blood appeared with a high signal intensity compared with associated abdominal and pelvic tissues. Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography images and time-of-flight sequences provided adequate anatomical details of the main arteries and veins that could be used for future feline anatomical and clinical vascular studies of the abdomen and pelvis.