112 - The 3D Brachial Plexus: A Nexus of 3D Printing Technology and the Use of Puzzles for Anatomy Education

Poster Board Number: 112
There are separate poster presentation times for odd and even posters.
Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Co-authors:

David Resuehr, Ph.D, M.Sc. - Associate Professor, CDIB, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Abstract Body :
Introduction & Objectives: 3D printing is already used in different aspects of anatomy education. Realistic 3D prints of bones have shown to be beneficial in the education of students, while also serving as a cost-saving and more attainable option than acquiring cadaveric bones for learning purposes. The practical uses of 3D printing in anatomy education are not limited to bones, and its uses are being explored for learning about other anatomical aspects, such as blood vessels, muscles, and nerves. The overall goal of this project is to investigate efficacy of using a 3D print of the brachial plexus in the format of different pieces that fit together like a puzzle, to enhance students’ understanding of its somewhat challenging structure.









Material & Methods: The 3D print is a backbone of the brachial plexus with C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1 nerve roots. It is connected by the crossing over of the divisions of the plexus. The various smaller branches of the plexus are printed to be separate fragments with interlocking magnetic pieces that connect to the larger plexus backbone. The 3D plexus can also be further characterized with different colored lines on its surface to represent the root origins and nerve branching from its origins. The concept of the project is that students in different healthcare programs can use the model and its pieces to assemble the brachial plexus, which may aid in understanding its branches in a 3D format to supplement learning with 2D images of the plexus. Students would be encouraged to assemble and disassemble the pieces of the 3D brachial plexus. The 3D format will ideally give students a better idea of how the actual plexus will appear in anatomy lab. This model can be used to employ spaced repetition and hands-on interaction with the plexus to encourage engaged learning about its intricate branching pattern. The model can also be used as a group-learning activity to facilitate collaboration among future healthcare professionals.









Results & Conclusion: After experimenting with different design ideas in MeshMixer, we were able to 3D print a prototype for this study. The functional brachial plexus has fully removable parts that reconnect via magnets that are built into the print. The names of the nerve branches are on the back of the removable parts so that students can test themselves by putting the plexus together first without seeing the names of the nerves, then by checking their accuracy.









Significance: The 3D print of the brachial plexus could be used in many different settings to help students learn its overall structure and branches more efficiently. It is a cost-effective option for this type of teaching method and if proven effective, this concept of making a 3D print as a puzzle can be applied to other aspects of anatomy education for example, learning the branching patterns of arteries.