Chung Yoh Kim & Jin Seo Park

The human hand can make precise movements utilizing several joints of various articular types. To understand hand movements more accurately, it is essential to view the actual movements of bones and muscles considering the X, Y, and Z axes in the joints. This study aimed to investigate the joint movements in a hand using movable surface models, including these axes. These movable surface models of the hand will improve medical students’ understanding of hand movements around the joints.To achieve this aim, 70 surface models were adopted from a Visible Korean model. Using Maya software, 20 virtual joints with X, Y, and Z axes included nine distal and proximal interphalangeal joints, five metacarpophalangeal joints, five carpometacarpal joints, and one wrist joint were created. Bone surface models were elaborately polished to maintain their original shape during movement. Muscle surface models were also processed to display the deformation of the muscle shape during movement. The surface models of the hand joints were moved by virtual control of the joints. We saved 87 movable surface models of the hand, including bones, muscles, and joint axes in stereolithography format, and compiled a Portable Document Format (PDF) file.Using the PDF file, the joint movements in a hand could be observed considering the X, Y, and Z axes alongside the stereoscopic shapes of the bones and muscles.These movable surface models of the hand will improve medical students’ understanding of hand movements around the joints.

KEY WORDS: Hand Joints; Muscle Contraction; Muscle Relaxation; Three-Dimensional imaging,; Visible Human Projects.

KIM, C. Y. & PARK, J. S. Movable surface models of hand joints using Visible Korean. Int. J. Morphol., 40(2):360-368, 2022.