157 - 3D Printed Models of the Types of Joints and Finger Tendons for Anatomy Teaching

Poster Board Number: 157
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Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Abstract Body : The use of 3D printing in Anatomy Education has created the opportunity to many educators to reproduce anatomical models to make easier the understanding of anatomical concepts and can be a good supplement to the cadaveric materials; besides it has been reported that the use of technology can lead to achieve greater learning outcomes and improve the motivations of the students.

There are several topics in Anatomy that represent a challenge for the understanding of the students such as the different synovial joints and their movements, or the finger tendons and their function including the extensor hood. Having a 3D printed model that can not only represent the anatomy but can be used to represent the function of the anatomical structure can guide the students to interact with it and improve their engagement and motivation in these topics. The aim of this project was to develop a 3D printed model of each synovial joint type and a finger with its tendons that can be used to represent and understand their movements.

These models were designed on 3D builder (Microsoft Corporation) and printed using PLA (Polylactic Acid) and PVA (PolyVinyl Alcohol) filaments on a BCN3D Sigma 3D printer.

The six types of joints (pivot, ball-and-socket, condyloid, plane, saddle, and hinge joint) were designed with two components each containing one articular surface and an attachment used to manipulate the joint. The anatomically described movement can be reproduced when both articular surfaces are put in contact together.

The finger design includes the metacarpal bone and three phalanges (proximal, middle, and distal). These bones articulate to simulate the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal joints (DIP). The flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), the extensor digitorum (ED), the lumbrical/interossei and the extensor hood mechanism are represented by threads running along de finger joints through a pulley-like system. The threads are fixed to the base of the metacarpal bone to be pulled by the student to represent their movement. MCP flexion and extension of the interphalangeal joints occur when both lumbrical threads are pulled. Abduction/adduction is reproduced when only one interossei thread is pulled. Action of the FDS thread produces flexion of all the finger joints, while action of the FDP alone reproduces flexion of all of them but the DIP. The ED thread extends all the joints.

These models allow the students to visualize the anatomical structures and characteristics such as the insertion of the tendons or the joint surfaces and allow them to interact with them to understand the movements of the joints and understand why no other movement could be achieved by that specific joint. They can let the students visualize the function of the finger tendons and the extensor hood mechanism as well. An interactive 3D model tool could help students to better understand these anatomical topics, to achieve greater education outcomes and it can lead to better engagement. Students’ perception after using these 3D printed models should be evaluated in the future.