Educative 3D Printed Atlas of a Rat Brain

thingiverse

In neuroscience and biology courses, 3D printed rat brains are revolutionizing the way students learn about brain anatomy. Typically, educators rely on Magnetic Resonance images or histological sections to teach the subject, but this approach can be static and hard to grasp. A more dynamic method is presented here, where a 3D printed rat brain has been created for educational purposes. This model allows students to manipulate the structure manually, thanks to its enlarged scale, and to disassemble it into its constituent parts, gaining a deeper understanding of the nervous system's three-dimensional organization. This innovative approach offers an alternative teaching method for biology students in general and those specializing in rat brain anatomy specifically. The 3D printed model is divided into eight key sections, which correspond to the most significant divisions of the brain. Each part is designed with interconnections that enable easy assembly and disassembly as needed. These solid components were refined, modified, and manufactured using poly(lactic acid) (PLA) via 3D printing techniques. This work presents a methodology that can be applied across almost any field of clinical and pre-clinical research, eliminating the need to dissect animals for educational purposes.