Three-dimensional reconstruction of the microstructure of brachial plexus from serial tissue sections
- VernacularTitle:臂丛神经显微结构的计算机三维重建
- Author:
Zenggan CHEN
;
Tongyi CHEN
;
Jian ZHANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Brachial plexus;
Frozen sections;
Image processing, computer-assisted
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics
2001;0(08):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of human brachial plexus including its outer contour and delicate pathways of nerve fascicles inside, and to explore an useful and practical method for three-dimensional reconstruction of brachial plexus. Methods Taking woman hair as the localizing marks, two left-side brachial plexus from healthy adult cadaver were serially horizontally sliced with each section 0.2 mm in thickness(from the outlet of nerve root canal to the origin of median nerve, about 20 cm in length on an average), each slice was stained by AchE histochemical method. Each section of the two-dimensional image was taken by high-resolution digital camera, and the three-dimensional microstructure of brachial plexus was reconstructed and computer-assisted. Results The three-dimensional structure of brachial plexus reappeared successfully, including its outer contour and its delicate pathways of nerve bundles inside, the topographic anatomy of every nerve fascicle and its relationship in arbitrary sections as well as the patterns of branching, intersection and recombination of nerve bundles in the whole length. It could also display the outer contour of brachial plexus and the delicate pathways of nerve bundles inside either separately or totally. The reconstructed microstructure of the brachial plexus was smooth, natural and realistic, it could be rotated, zoomed and divided in any direction. The fascicular number of C7 root was more than C6 or C8, while C5 and T1 were the least. Conclusion The three-dimensional structure of brachial plexus inside is very complicated. The nerve bundles crisscross and recombine with each another. It combines a fine and delicate nerve network. Using the advanced localizing method, a good result is obtained. This is a practical method for three-dimensional reconstruction of the microstructure of brachial plexus.
