Dog Head with 3D Superficial and Deep Anatomical Dissection – Erler Zimmer VP9000

The Erler Zimmer VP9000 model is a life-size reproduction of a dog’s head and features two different levels of anatomical dissection on each side. The left side shows a superficial dissection, while the right side allows for the observation of deeper structures in the cranio-cervical region.

The use of full-color 3D printing allows for the immediate identification of muscles, nerves, blood vessels, salivary glands, and other anatomical structures, providing a representation particularly well-suited for the study of veterinary anatomy and university instruction.

On the left side, the skin has been removed to reveal the superficial musculature of the head. The levator nasolabialis, caninus, buccinator, zygomaticus, and parotid-auricular muscles are clearly visible. In the temporal and mandibular regions, the masseter and temporal muscles—two of the main muscles involved in mastication—are also clearly visible.

The specimen also allows one to trace the course of the facial nerve and its main branches, including the dorsal and ventral buccal branches and the auriculopalpebral nerve. Alongside the nervous structures, major vessels of the region are depicted, including the facial artery, the external jugular vein, the maxillary vein, and the lingual-facial vein.

Particular attention has also been given to the glandular system. In fact, the parotid gland with its duct, the submandibular gland, and the submandibular lymph nodes are visible. In the rostral part of the head, the main external structures of the nose can also be observed, such as the nasal tip, the nasal wings, and the nasal plane.

The right side features a more extensive dissection. Removal of the mandible allows for observation of the temporomandibular joint and its articular surfaces, as well as the medial pterygoid muscle, which has been dissected near its insertion.

This preparation makes the mandibular nerve and the maxillary nerve, the maxillary artery, and the course of the facial nerve particularly easy to identify. The external auditory meatus and the zygomatic arch are also recognizable. The absence of the parotid gland on the right side allows for a clearer view of the facial nerve and the auriculopalpebral nerve.

The tongue is preserved down to its caudal portion, allowing for the study of some of the muscles that control its movements, including the styloglossus, genioglossus, and geniohyoid muscles. The hypoglossal nerve is also clearly distinguishable in the same region.

Proceeding caudally, the model displays the musculature of the pharynx and allows observation of the course of the common carotid artery and the vagosympathetic trunk.

Thanks to the combination of superficial and deep dissection, the VP9000 model allows students to study the relationships between the muscles, nerves, vessels, and glands of the dog’s head within a single specimen. It is particularly suitable for university courses in veterinary medicine, comparative anatomy laboratories, and educational activities requiring a detailed and easily observable three-dimensional representation.

The model is produced at actual size using full-color 3D printing. The various anatomical structures are rendered in specific colors to facilitate their identification during study.