It is well known in the medical imaging world that high-resolution multilayer X-ray computer tomography and 3.0T superconducting magnetic resonance myelography can attain a more comprehensive and constant two-dimensional original data.

Three-dimensional reconstruction nerve models are typically retrieved from two-dimensional images of "visible human" frozen sections. However, due to the elasticity of nerve tissues and small color differences compared with surrounding tissues, the veracity and soundness of nerve tissues can be damaged during grinding.

Therefore a three-dimensional digital visualization model of healthy human cervical nerves, which prevails over the drawbacks of grindings, curtails data loss, and displays a realistic appearance and three-dimensional image has been successfully developed by Jiaming Fu and colleagues from the 98 Hospital of Chinese PLA.

Additionally, vivid images from different angles can be observed because of minimal pattern distortion. This model exposed the morphology, distribution, and spatial relations of the major nerves of the neck, and provided three-dimensional morphological data for anatomical teaching and morphological observation of regenerated nerves, nerve block anesthesia, and surgery.

The team’s findings and results have gone on to be published in the journal Neural Regeneration Research.