High-resolution anatomy from in situ human brain.

We have generated a spatially accurate, high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) volume of brain anatomy from cryosectioned whole human head. The head of a female cadaver was cryosectioned on a heavy duty cryomacrotome (PMV, Stockholm Sweden) modified for quantitative digital image capture. Serial images (1024(2), 24-bit) were captured directly from the cryoplaned specimen blockface in 500-micron intervals and reconstructed to a 3D data volume. Data were placed into the Talairach coordinate system to create a volume of brain anatomy for atlas reference. We resampled the volume at 500 microns along the sagittal, coronal, and horizontal planes and enhanced the images by digitally editing the background. The spatial resolution of the original digitized images provided sufficient anatomic detail to clearly delineate gray and white matter and neural structures, including major fiber pathways, subthalamic nuclei, and laminae. We developed a compact disk and controlling software program to enable the viewer to select planes of orientation, display, and copy individual to sections at higher resolution. Animation proved useful in the conveyance of system anatomy as structures are shown traversing through the neuroaxis. Postmortem cryosectioning paired with this computerized presentation allowed the complete 3D volume data to be distributed and shared as an educational, clinical, and research resource.