A 3-Dimensional Paper Model of the Pterygopalatine Fossa for Anatomy Education

The pterygopalatine fossa is a small pyramidal space located at both sides of the skull. It is complex due to the many structures that run through the fossa to communicate between different anatomical areas of the head. Being clinically important to oral and maxillofacial surgery, the anatomy of the pterygopalatine fossa is challenging to visualise for dental undergraduate preclinical students. To tackle this problem, we proposed a 3-dimensional (3D) paper model of the pterygopalatine fossa for dental undergraduate preclinical anatomy teaching and learning. This article outlines the step-bystep method for building a 3D paper model of the pterygopalatine fossa. This article also explains our teaching approach which integrates a spatial narrative component to anatomy education and a quiz to test students understanding before and after the activity. This study represents a practical approach to anatomical education in cases where 3D models of an anatomical area are unavailable. This study also attempts to integrate spatial narrative into anatomy education for better visual-spatial thinking and memory retention.