Training Worksheet

VH Dissector 6 Beta Training Worksheet Using the Abdomen

  1. Start by setting the screen view:
    • If you’ve been playing with the VHD, go to View in the very top menu and select “Restore Factory View.”
  2. Set the cross section through the abdomen:
    • Select the “MOVE” tool from the tool menu.
    • Go to the sagittal cross section. Click and hold anywhere in the frame and DRAG the image so that the BLUE LINE is in the abdomen. The BLUE LINE indicates the location of the axial cross section plane.
    • You can view the location of the axial cross section plane on the 3D model by selecting “Cross-Sections” in the top menu. Under Transverse, click the box to make it “Visible” and select the button for “color.” Click the “Cross-sections” menu again and it will disappear.
    • To SCROLL slowly through the axial cross sections, single click within the axial view and use the Up/Down arrows on the keyboard to scroll.
    • To make the axial cross section LARGER, double click within the axial cross section area.
    • ZOOM IN by using the scroll wheel on the mouse, or on the track pad, swipe two fingers up or down.
    • MOVE the section by clicking and dragging with the mouse.
    • RETURN to all three cross sectional views by double clicking anywhere in the axial cross section area.
  3. Explore the abdomen on the 3D model:
    • ZOOM IN on the 3D model using the mouse scroll wheel.
    • REPOSITON the model at any time by clicking and dragging within the frame (HINT: you must have the MOVE tool selected – this will not work with any other tool selection!)
    • Select the DISSECT tool from the tool bar.
    • Hover over any structure without clicking and you will see the name appear in a grey box.
    • Experiment with dissecting away any muscles away from the 3D model. (Notice they are NOT removed from the cross sectional images, only the 3D model.)
    • UNDO your selections at any time using the Edit option in the very top menu. Here you will find the Undo option. (You can also use CTRL+Z on the key board.)
    • RESET the 3D model anatomy by selecting the “Anatomy” button and clicking “Show All.”
    • HIGHLIGHT structures by selecting the Highlight tool from the tool menu. Once you have selected the Highlight tool, you will notice that this tool also tells you the structure names, just as the Dissect tool did.
    • Highlight the left external oblique muscle on the 3D model.
    • Select the Move tool.
    • Double click on the axial cross section.
    • Note that the left external oblique muscle is highlighted on the cross section.
    • Double click on the axial cross section again.
    • Double click on the coronal cross section.
    • Note that the left external oblique muscle is highlighted on the cross section.
    • Select the highlight tool
    • Using the highlight tool, find and highlight the right external oblique muscle ON THE CORONAL CROSS SECTION.
    • Note that it becomes highlighted on the 3D model and all other cross sectional views as well!
    • Select the Move tool.
    • Double click on the coronal cross section to return to the full view.
  4. Add and highlight specific structures using the Anatomy menus:
    • Click on the “Anatomy” menu at the top again.
    • Select the “Index” option on the left.
    • In the search box, type “linea alba.”
    • The eye icon will show the structure on the 3D model. It is already blue because the linea alba is shown. Click the eye and note that the model’s linea alba disappears. Click the eye again to make it reappear.
    • Click the sunburst and see that now the linea alba is highlighted on the 3D model (lavender).
    • Click the Anatomy button again to make the menu disappear.
    • Select the Move tool.
    • Double click on the axial cross section.
    • Zoom in to the linea alba.
    • Note that it is also highlighted in lavender in the cross sectional views!
    • Double click on the cross section to return to the full view.
    • Click on the Anatomy button to open the menu again.
    • Now select “Regions” on the left.
    • Click the plus sign to open the menu under Abdomen.
    • Click the plus sign to open the menu under Alimentary System.
    • Click the starburst symbol to highlight the liver.
    • Note that it now appears purple in all cross sections.
    • Select the Dissect tool.
    • Dissect a few structure on the right side of the 3D model until you can see the purple-highlighted liver. Remember you can use ctrl+z at any time if you click the wrong thing.
    • Select the Rotate tool from the tool menu when you are finished.
    • Rotate the 3D model to a posterior view. Zoom in on the lumbar area.
    • Select the Dissect tool to remove the thoracolumbar fascia, L&R longissimus, L&R multifidis, L&R spinalis thoracis, and L&R rotatores muscles.
    • Click on the Anatomy button to open the menu again.
    • Now select “Systems” on the left.
    • Click the plus sign to open the menu under Skeletal System.
    • Click the plus sign to open the menu under Axial Skeleton.
    • Click the plus sign to open the menu under Vertebral Column.
    • Click the plus sign to open the menu under Lumbar Vertebrae.
    • Click the eye icons next to L3, L4, and L5 to make them disappear from the 3D model.
    • Bring them back using the eye icons because we just did that for funsies. (Because we can!)
    • Click the starburst icons next to L3, L4, and L5 to highlight them.
    • Note they are highlighted on all views.
    • Select the Move tool from the tool menu.
    • Drag the cross sections around until you can see the highlighted vertebrae on all views.
  5. Build the anatomy of the celiac trunk and its branches:
    • CLEAR the 3D model anatomy by selecting the “Anatomy” button and clicking “Hide All.” (Food for thought: how do you remove the blue plane from the 3D view?)
    • Using the Anatomy menu once more, select “Systems” on the left.
    • We have a menu tree open from before, so click the plus sign to COLLAPSE the menu under Skeletal System.
    • Now click the eye icon next to Skeletal System to show it on the 3D model (if it shows up facing backwards, use the Rotate tool to turn it front-facing).
    • Now expand Cardiovascular System menu, then Arteries, then Aorta, then Descending Aorta, then Abdominal Aorta.
    • Click the starburst icon next to Celiac Trunk to highlight it.
    • Close the Anatomy menu.
    • Select the Move tool from the tool menu.
    • Double click on the axial cross section to make it bigger.
    • Using the highlight tool, find and highlight the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava (you may have to scroll up or down using the arrow keys).
    • Select the Move tool and double click on the cross section to return to the full view.
    • Using the Anatomy menu once more, select “Index” on the left.
    • Use the search field to find and highlight the pancreas.
    • Select the rotate tool to turn the model so you can see the back.
    • Use the dissect tool and carefully remove the ribs and vertebrae until you can see the aorta and IVC posterior to the pancreas.
    • Still in the dissect tool, identify the Splenic Artery (hover, but don’t click). Zoom in if that helps.
    • Still in the dissect tool, identify the Common Hepatic Artery.
    • Food for thought: without using the Anatomy menu, how could you get the vertebrae you removed to reappear on the 3D model?
    • Use the rotate tool to rotate the 3D model back to an anterior view.
    • Use the dissect tool to remove the costal cartilages and sternum.
    • Use the rotate tool to look down into the abdomen.
    • Using the dissect or highlight tool, note the location of the common hepatic artery and find the name of the artery that crosses over the anterior side of the superior portion of head of the pancreas. You may have to ZOOM in using the mouse.
    • Follow it down to see it become two branches.
    • Select the Move tool.
    • Using the Cross-Section menu, add the transverse cross section.
    • Adjust the cross sections until the transverse plane is through the pancreas.
    • Double click on the axial cross section.
    • Scroll up and down until you can locate the very same arteries you saw in the 3D model, crossing anteriorly to the pancreas. What tools do you need to select so that the names appear when you hover the mouse?
    • Zoom in as needed.