[Observation of the sectional anatomic structure and visualization of the normal lumbar plexus of virtual Chinese human].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the normal structure of lumbar plexus in the virtual Chinese Human (VCH) Female I and Male III and establish a digitized visible model of their lumbar plexus. METHODS: The cross-sectional images from the VCH Female I and Male III dataset were reviewed to study lumbar plexus structures on a section-by-section basis. The nerve roots, major psoas muscle and blood vessels were also observed. Three-dimensional computerized reconstructions of lumbar plexus and its adjacent structures were conducted from these data using Amira 3.1 (TGS) imaging software respectively. RESULTS: The three-dimensional reconstructed visible models perfectly displayed the anatomic relationships of lumbar plexus structures and their adjacent structures. CONCLUSIONS: VCH Female I and Male III dataset can provide complete and accurate data of main structure of lumbar plexus. The digitized models of lumbar plexus offer unique insights into the complex anatomy, and morphologic data for imaging diagnosis and treatment of the injury of lumbar plexus.