Surface dissection of the face - Erler Zimmer 3D anatomy Series MP1108

This model is part of the exclusive Monash 3D anatomy series, a comprehensive series of human dissections reproduced with ultra-high resolution color 3D printing.

This 3D model presents a superficial dissection of a left face anterior to the ear with false staining highlighting a series of neurovascular structures alongside the superficial muscles of facial expression. This complements the more extensive superficial dissection of the face and lateral head presented in our HW 45 model. The non-dissected regions of the model were digitally removed.
Starting just anterior to the ear, the open dissection window exposed the parotid gland and its duct transmitting anteriorly toward the oral cavity. Emerging from the margins of the parotid gland are the terminal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII), including the cervical, mandibular, buccal, zygomatic, and temporal. The cervical and mandibular branches in the lower portion of the dissection window can be seen sloping inferiorly and passing superficially with respect to the facial vein (which ascends toward the medial canthus of the eye). The mandibular branch passes just deep to the facial artery, which runs parallel to the facial vein. Tracing the path of these vessels from the mandible to the nasal and orbital regions also provides a checklist of the superficial and deep muscles that have been highlighted,
Along the superior margin of the parotid gland the base of the auriculotemporal nerve and superficial temporal artery ascends anteriorly to the ear and rests on a partially dissected temporalis fascia to expose part of the temporalis muscle. Moving anteriorly over the orbit, the supraorbital nerve and the supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries that ascend over the epicranial aponeurosis were highlighted. Within that layer the deeper frontal muscle can be appreciated as a darker shadow within the layer.

What advantages does the Monash University anatomical dissection collection offer over plastic models or plastinated human specimens?

• Each body replica has been carefully created from selected patient X-ray data or human cadaver specimens selected by a highly trained team of anatomists at the Monash University Center for Human Anatomy Education to illustrate a range of clinically important areas of anatomy with a quality and fidelity that cannot be achieved with conventional anatomical models-this is real anatomy, not stylized anatomy.
• Each body replica has been rigorously checked by a team of highly trained anatomists at the Center for Human Anatomy Education, Monash University, to ensure the anatomical accuracy of the final product.
• The body replicas are not real human tissue and therefore not subject to any barriers of transportation, import, or use in educational facilities that do not hold an anatomy license. The Monash 3D Anatomy dissection series avoids these and other ethical issues that are raised when dealing with plastinated human remains.