Integration of CT and MRI Imaging with Plastination for Enhanced Veterinary Anatomy Education: A study on the Crab-Eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous)

Mayla Magalhães de Oliveira Alcobaça¹Athelson Stefanon Bittencourt²Yuri Favalessa Monteiro²Khallil Taverna Chaim³Áureo Banhos⁴Antônio Chaves de Assis Neto^1*

• ¹Departament of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
• ²Department of Morphology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
• ³LIM44, Hospital das Clínicas of University of São Paulo Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
• ⁴Department of Biology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil

With advancements in diagnostic imaging and its applications in medicine, it is crucial for professionals to continuously update their knowledge and seek training in the anatomy of various wild animal species. Plastination is used to preserve biological tissues and their intricate details, thereby enriching the anatomical knowledge by identifying anatomical structures. This study aimed (1) to describe in detail the anatomy of the thoracic and pelvic limbs of the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) using correlated plastinated metameric sections with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging; and (2) to analyze tissue shrinkage resulting from plastination. Four animals of both sexes were used; their limbs were subjected to CT and MRI scans, and the resulting images were saved in the DICOM format. The limbs were then subjected to silicone plastination via forced impregnation at -18 °C, involving the following steps: fixation, dehydration, impregnation, and curing. During plastination, the slices were measured for weight, thickness, and volume before dehydration and after curing, and their shrinkage was subsequently analyzed. Additionally, threedimensional rendering and multiplanar virtual dissection were employed to identify and describe anatomical structures and syntopic correlations. The key results include the identification and description of anatomical structures in the plastinated sections, the application of these findings to the corresponding axial sections obtained from CT and MRI, and the analysis of shrinkage in the plastinated sections. We conclude that plastinated metameric sections of the thoracic and pelvic limbs of the crab-eating fox, correlated with CT and MRI, provide an effective method for anatomical studies. This method enhances the anatomical understanding, aids in the interpretation of imaging examinations, serves as an educational tool, and assists veterinary professionals in anatomy and diagnostic imaging. Furthermore, the plastinated specimens exhibited minimal shrinkage, which did not affect the identity or quality of the material.