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Spinal Cord Pathways Model

Digital LearningTeaching and Learning Practice

Description

A set of freely downloadable 3D-printable STL models for exploring ascending and descending spinal pathways. The brain and spinal cord sections can be mounted on a board and used with coloured wire to trace sensory and motor pathways.

Benefit of this resource and how to make the best use of it

The model gives students a tactile way to explore relationships between the brain, brainstem and spinal cord. Printed sections mount on a board so learners can trace pathways with coloured wire or string.

  • Ask small groups to map sensory and motor pathways, distinguishing individual neurons or tracts by colour.
  • Use changes to the wires to discuss how spinal cord lesions interrupt pathways.
  • Pair practical activities with AXON: Animated eXploration of Neuroanatomy to compare physical and digital representations.
  • Remove the wires and wipe an acrylic mounting board clean so the model can be reused.

The Printables listing includes STL downloads, printing settings and assembly instructions. Making the physical resource requires 3D printing and additional mounting materials.

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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA)

This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA license, allowing sharing and adaptation for non-commercial use with proper attribution, provided derivative works use the same license.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Physical models used in neuroanatomy teaching

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20220208

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