Serially Sectioned Images of the Whole Body - Sixth Report: Browsing Software of the Serially Sectioned Images for Learning Sectional Anatomy / 대한해부학회지

Sectional anatomy is the course to learn anatomical structures on the sectional planes of cadaver. The purpose of this research is to make browsing software of the serially sectioned images, which is useful not only to learn sectional anatomy but also to learn magnetic resonance (MR) images and computed tomography (CT) images. One-thousand seven-hundred two sets of corresponding anatomical, MR, CT, and segmented images (intervals 1 mm) were selected from the serially sectioned images (horizontal direction) of a Korean male cadaver's whole body. We composed browsing software (file size 377 MBytes) of the images, which involved the following functions: The anatomical, MR, CT, and segmented images, which were always corresponding, were displayed; one of four images could be enlarged; images of interesting levels could be displayed in a real time conveniently either using software buttons, scroll bar, image number or using computer keyboard; names of the 13 anatomical structures, which were already segmented, could be displayed. By using this software, medical students and doctors can figure out stereoscopic anatomical structures from the anatomical images to review anatomy; they can compare MR and CT images with corresponding anatomical images to easily recognize anatomical structures in the MR and CT images.

Manufacture of the Serially Sectioned Images of the Whole Body (Fourth Report: Methods for Selection and Treatment of the Cadaver and for Scanning of the MRIs and CTs) / 대한해부학회지

Visible Human Project dataset made in the United States has some problems which were caused by the cadaver selection, cadaver treatment, MRI (magnetic resonance image) scanning, and CT (computerized tomograph) scanning. Therefore, in this study, we intended to make better serially sectioned images, namely Visible Korean Human, which overcome the problems of Visible Human Project dataset. The better serially sectioned images will be the basis of better three dimensional images of the whole body, which are helpful in medical education An appropriate Korean male cadaver was selected for this study. Without injecting fixative, the cadaver's posture and direction were adjusted and fixed in an immobilizing box. Horizontal MRIs and CTs of the cadaver's whole body were scanned at 1 mm intervals. In addition, coronal and sagittal MRIs and CTs as well as movies of the MRIs and CTs were made. Age of the selected cadaver was young (32 years old), body size was Korean average (height 1,640 mm, weight 55 kg), and pathological findings were few. 1,718 couples of corresponding MRIs and CTs, in which anatomical structures appear clearly (pixel size 1 mm), were acquired. 276 couples of coronal MRIs and CTs as well as 505 couples of sagittal MRIs and CTs were acquired. Movies of all MRIs and CTs were acquired as well. The serially sectioned images acquired in this study will be helpful either in studying MRIs and CTs by referring to corresponding anatomical images or in studying anatomy and medicine by reconstructing MRIs, CTs, and anatomical images into three dimensional images.

Manufacture of the Serially Sectioned Images of the Whole Body (Third Report: Methods for Manufacture of the Segmented Images, Coronal Segmented Images, and Sagittal Segmented Images) / 대한해부학회지

While three dimensional (3D) images of the whole body can be reconstructed by using the serially sectioned images, 3D image of each anatomical structure can be reconstructed by using the segmented images. In this research, outlines of skin, bones, liver, lungs, kidneys, urinary bladder, heart, and brain in the anatomical images were decided to segment, and luminal outlines of digestive tract, respiratory tract, and arteries were decided to segment too. On the Adobe Photoshop, selections were semiautomatically drawn along outlines of the anatomical structures and semiautomatically corrected using magnetic lasso tool. Successively, selections were manually corrected either using lasso tool or through work path. The selections were filled with colors to make segmented images. By stacking rows and columns of the segmented images, coronal and sagittal segmented images were made. The coronal and sagittal segmented images were observed to find incorrect segmented images, which were revised. 8,507 segmented images with 0.2 mm intervals, 3,040x2,008 resolution, 0.2 mm pixel size, and 8 bits color depth were achieved, so that file size of 1 segmented image and 8,507 segmented images was 5.8 Mbytes and 48.3 Gbytes, respectively. These segmented images will be the basis for the development of 3D images of the anatomical structures and software of virtual dissection and virtual endoscopy, which are helpful in studying anatomy and endoscopy.

Manufacture of the Serially Sectioned Images of the Whole Body (First Report: Methods for Embedding and Serial Sectioning) / 대한해부학회지

Serially sectioned images (MR, CT, and anatomical images) of the whole body are helpful in anatomy education because three dimensional images can be reconstructed with the serially sectioned images, and then the three dimensional images can be sectioned and rotated. To make the most important anatomical images of the serially sectioned images, the cadaver's whole body should be embedded, frozen, and serially sectioned to make sectioned surfaces. In this study, to make the sectioned surfaces better than the Visible Human Project dataset, the equipments and techniques have been developed as follows. First, the equipments (embedding box, freezer) and techniques for embedding and freezing of the cadaver's whole body have been developed. Second, the equipments (cryomacrotome) and techniques for serial sectioning of the embedding box at 0.2 mm intervals have been developed. By using these equipments and techniques, the sectioned surfaces with good quality could be made at 0.2 mm intervals. The anatomical images made of the sectioned surfaces will be the basis for making better three dimensional images which are more helpful in anatomy education.

Manufacture of the Serially Sectioned Images of the Whole Body (Second Report: Photographing and Processing of the Anatomical Images) / 대한해부학회지

Serially sectioned images (MR, CT, and anatomical images) of the whole body are helpful in anatomy education because three dimensional images can be reconstructed with the serially sectioned images, and then the three dimensional images can be sectioned and rotated. To make the most important anatomical images of serially sectioned images, sectioned surfaces should be inputted into the personal computer after serial sectioning of the cadaver's whole body. In this study, equipments (digital camera and strobes) and techniques for inputting the sectioned surfaces into the personal computer to make anatomical images and for processing the anatomical images have been developed. By using these equipments and techniques, the anatomical images with the actual feature of the sectioned surfaces, the right alignment, and the constant brightness could be made. These anatomical images will be the basis for making good three dimensional images which are helpful in anatomy education.