title: 3D printed reproductions of orbital dissections: a novel mode of visualising anatomy for trainees in ophthalmology or optometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The teaching of human head, neck and orbital anatomy forms a critical part of undergraduate and postgraduate medical and allied health professional training, including optometry. While still largely grounded in cadaveric dissection, this method of instruction is constrained in some countries and regional areas by access to real human cadavers, costs of cadaver bequest programmes, health and safety of students and staff and the shortage of adequate time in modern curricula. Many candidates choosing a postgraduate pathway in ophthalmological training, such as those accepted into the Royal Colleges of Ophthalmology in the UK, Australia and New Zealand programmes and the American Academy of Ophthalmologists in the USA, are compelled as adult learners to revise or revisit human orbital anatomy, ocular anatomy and select areas of head and neck anatomy. These candidates are often then faced with the issue of accessing facilities with dissected human cadaveric material.
  
  
  METHODS
  In light of these difficulties, we developed a novel means of creating high-resolution reproductions of prosected human cadaver orbits suitable for education and training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  3D printed copies of cadaveric orbital dissections (superior, lateral and medial views) showing a range of anatomical features were created.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These 3D prints offer many advantages over plastinated specimens as they are suitable for rapid reproduction and as they are not human tissue they avoid cultural and ethical issues associated with viewing cadaver specimens. In addition, they are suitable for use in the office, home, laboratory or clinical setting in any part of the world for patient and doctor education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Justin W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paxton
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Kateryna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burlak
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quayle
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: McMenamin
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection / Q000193:education; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D009907:Optometry / Q000193:education*; D009915:Orbit / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional
keywords: Anatomy; Imaging; Medical Education; Orbit