Serially Sectioned Images of the Whole Body (Eighth Report: Segmentation of the Upper Limb’s Structures)

Abstract

Whole body of a Korean male cadaver was serially milled to make sectioned images. Segmentation of various anatomical structures can expand the utilization of the sectioned images such as three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the structures of real human. Following previous outlining of lower limb’s structures, we decided to make segmented images of upper limb’s structures in detail. Ninety-one structures (a skin, 32 bones, 49 muscles, 6 arteries, and 3 nerves) in the left upper limb were segmented in 628 sectioned images. While doing this, we developed more efficient technique for segmentation. To draw the outlines of various structures more quickly, sectioned images were filtered first and then outlines were drawn by ‘quick selection’ tool and other tools on the Photoshop. Also, outlines were automatically generated by interpolation using Combustion software. We made coronal and sagittal segmented images, browsing software of the serially sectioned images, volume 3D images, and surface 3D images for verifying segmentation. These segmented and sectioned images of the upper limb are expected to help other researchers make 3D images and various software of upper limb and to have widespread applications in both medical learning and research.