Creating a novel 3D-printed model for teaching pelvic floor anatomy.

Abstract

A deep understanding of pelvic floor anatomy requires a three-dimensional visualization of the spatial relationships among pelvic neurovasculature, soft tissue structures, and bony landmarks, which are highly complex and difficult to comprehend solely through traditional teaching methods such as didactic lectures and anatomical dissection. This short communication presents the creation of a physical model of the pelvic floor created through three-dimensional printing, sculpted soft tissue structures, and rubber-coated wire neurovasculature. The model served as an intermediate and supplemental instructional tool for preclinical medical students, with the goal of helping them translate their two-dimensional understanding of the pelvic floor from lecture to the anatomical dissection lab.