3D anatomy of the heart in teaching: differentiating physiological and pathological changes in wild ungulates in central Europe

Introduction Accurate knowledge of the heart's anatomy and its physiological variability in wild ungulates is essential for the correct interpretation of necropsy and imaging findings, veterinary diagnostics, and teaching in fields focused on hunting and wildlife management. One of the most frequently misinterpreted structures is the Os cordis , whose occurrence, morphology, and clinical significance in most species of wild ungulates have not yet been sufficiently studied by modern imaging methods. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to systematically describe the occurrence, localization, and morphometric characteristics of the Os cordis of the most common Central European wild ungulates using computed tomography (CT) and to verify the contribution of CT-based 3D models for teaching and distinguishing between physiological and pathological changes in the heart. Methods A total of 131 hearts of roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), fallow deer ( Dama dama ), mouflon ( Ovis gmelini musimon ), and wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) were examined using the multidetector CT. Results The presence, location, density, volume, and size of the Os cordis were evaluated. Digital 3D models were created from DICOM data and used for both morphological analysis and teaching purposes. Os cordis was found in all ruminants studied, Os cordi s was found in 43 out of 45 roe deer, in 32 out of 36 mouflons, in 17 out of 18 red deer, and in all fallow deer hearts, while it was not found in wild boar. The density and size of the Os cordis increased significantly with age and differed between sexes and species, while volume was primarily influenced by body weight. The integration of 3D models into teaching led to a significant improvement in students' ability to correctly locate and identify the Os cordis . Discussion The results demonstrate that CT and 3D modeling are effective tools for cardiac morphology research, veterinary diagnostics, and modern teaching.