Digital Reconstruction of a Primate Skeleton and Development of a Scalable 3D-Printed Educational Model
The Young Generation of Veterinary Anatomists (YGVA) Congress, Sarajevo, Bosnia And Herzegovina, 22 - 24 July 2026, pp.11, (Summary Text)
- Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
- City: Sarajevo
- Country: Bosnia And Herzegovina
- Page Numbers: pp.11
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Osteological
specimens are essential in veterinary anatomy education and comparative
anatomy, yet access to real skeletons is often limited by ethical, financial,
and supply constraints. This study aimed to create a scalable, reproducible
digital osteology resource by digitally reconstructing the complete skeleton of
the Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) and enabling downstream 3D printing
and re-scaling for education and research. One naturally deceased individual
was obtained through a wildlife unit. Each bone was separated, identified, and
digitized individually using three different 3D scanning systems. Scanner
selection was guided by bone size and surface complexity: small, high-detail
elements (e.g., carpal bones) were scanned effectively with Artec Spider 2,
whereas larger elements such as the skull and mandible were captured
efficiently with EinScan Shining 3D. All outputs were saved and archived as
polygon meshes in PLY format. All skeletal elements were successfully modeled
in 3D and transferred to an electronic repository as PLY files. The creation of
a complete digital skeleton archive for M. mulatta provides an ethical and
sustainable alternative to repeated handling or acquisition of rare
osteological materials. Because the models can be re-scaled and repeatedly 3D
printed, the dataset supports flexible use in teaching, training, and future
research by any investigator with access to standard 3D printing workflows.