Efficiency of polymers in anatomical model creation: insights from angiotechnique applied to swine organs

The increasing demand for anatomical specimens in education, alongside the limited availability of cadavers, has encouraged the creation of anatomical models using accessible and durable materials. Angiotechnique enables the construction of detailed anatomical specimens by preserving the morphology and vascular structures of organs using synthetic materials. This study compared porcine kidney and lung models produced using angiotechnique with two different fillers—silicone rubber and self-polymerizing acrylic resin—focusing on vessel filling and morphological preservation. Organs from pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus), obtained from a commercial slaughterhouse in Picos, Piauí, Brazil, were used: six pairs of kidneys and four pairs of lungs. After dissection, the specimens were filled through the renal artery or trachea with one of the polymers, followed by tissue corrosion using a 10% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution to expose the vascular and bronchial structures. Results showed that silicone rubber, though low-cost, was insufficient for detailed kidney models due to poor filling and structural preservation. However, it allowed for the creation of bronchial tree models suitable for educational purposes, despite the absence of alveolar filling. In contrast, acrylic resin, while more expensive, yielded superior results for both organs. It enabled complete filling of the capillary network, preserved vessel morphology in kidneys, and reached the final respiratory pathways in lungs. These findings support the choice of polymer based on the anatomical structure being modeled and highlight acrylic resin as the more effective material for detailed vascular and airway preservation.