Description

This 3D model is a didactic representation of a transverse section of the spinal cord at the thoracic level. It depicts the characteristic organization of the thoracic spinal cord, including the centrally located gray matter and the surrounding white matter. The gray matter is represented in its typical butterfly-shaped configuration, with distinguishable dorsal and ventral horns, as well as the lateral horn, a characteristic feature of thoracic spinal cord levels associated with autonomic nervous system pathways. The surrounding white matter represents the anterior, lateral, and posterior funiculi. Key anatomical landmarks, including the anterior median fissure and the posterior median sulcus, are represented to support spatial orientation within the spinal cord cross-section. This model was manually created in Blender, based on canonical neuroanatomical representations and adapted for educational purposes. This piece is part of a broader project focused on the development of didactic 3D-printed models for inclusive neuroanatomy education, particularly for students who are blind or have low vision. The project is directed by the Health Science & Education Lab at Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil.