A 3D model of human hand anatomy using contrast imaging and muscle architecture visualization

Abstract

Diffusible iodine‐based contrast‐enhanced microCT (DiceCT) enables three‐dimensional visualization of mineralized and soft tissues while preserving their spatial relationships in situ. We present a DiceCT‐based digital atlas of a human hand from a consented female donor through the University of Missouri Gift of Body program, scanned at 48.8 μm resolution following Lugol’s iodine staining. Bones, tendons, intrinsic muscles, neurovascular structures, the flexor retinaculum and carpal tunnel, and dorsal digital expansions were manually segmented to generate labeled multiplanar sections and three‐dimensional reconstructions. The dataset resolves epidermal ridge detail on the palmar surface while capturing structures, including the carpal tunnel contents, extensor mechanism, neurovasculature, palmar fat pads, and metacarpophalangeal sesamoids. Reconstructions demonstrate relevant relationships among the median nerve, flexor tendons, and flexor retinaculum, the ulnar nerve within Guyon’s canal and the radial artery within the anatomical snuffbox. Distal digital arterial anastomoses are visible near the terminal tufts, and radial artery branches supplying the dorsal and distal scaphoid poles provide context for scaphoid vascular vulnerability. Muscle volumes and physiological cross‐sectional areas were calculated using all fascicles within each intrinsic muscle. Flexor pollicis brevis and adductor pollicis exhibited comparatively large relative physiological cross‐sectional areas, whereas the lumbricals had the smallest values, consistent with previous architectural estimates. By documenting whole‐hand anatomy and within‐individual muscle architecture non‐destructively, this atlas provides a high‐fidelity resource for anatomical education, documentation of anatomical variation, clinical interpretation, and generation of anatomically consistent biomechanical models. These results support DiceCT as a platform bridging anatomical research, clinical translation, and pedagogical access to donor‐specific human anatomy.