Three-dimensional stereotactic atlas of the adult human skull correlated with the brain, cranial nerves, and intracranial vasculature

• A new, interactive and stereotactic 3D atlas of adult human skull is constructed.
• Skull is spatially correlated with brain, cranial nerves, and intracranial vessels.
• The skull model is complete with all 29 bones, including the auditory ossicles.
• The skull contains all typical bony features and landmarks.
• Superior to existing skull models in completeness, realism, and brain integration.
• Valuable for medical students and residents to easily get familiarized with skull.
• Surrounding anatomy can be explored with a few clicks.
• It may potentially serve as a reference aid in the reading and operating rooms.

BackgroundAlthough the adult human skull is a complex and multifunctional structure, its 3D, complete, realistic, and stereotactic atlas has not yet been created. This work addresses the construction of a 3D interactive atlas of the adult human skull spatially correlated with the brain, cranial nerves, and intracranial vasculature.New methodThe process of atlas construction included computed tomography (CT) high-resolution scan acquisition, skull extraction, skull parcellation, 3D disarticulated bone surface modeling, 3D model simplification, brain–skull registration, 3D surface editing, 3D surface naming and color-coding, integration of the CT-derived 3D bony models with the existing brain atlas, and validation.ResultsThe virtual skull model created is complete with all 29 bones, including the auditory ossicles (being among the smallest bones). It contains all typical bony features and landmarks.Comparison with existing method(s)The created skull model is superior to the existing skull models in terms of completeness, realism, and integration with the brain along with blood vessels and cranial nerves.ConclusionsThis skull atlas is valuable for medical students and residents to easily get familiarized with the skull and surrounding anatomy with a few clicks. The atlas is also useful for educators to prepare teaching materials. It may potentially serve as a reference aid in the reading and operating rooms.