Surgical Anatomy Models
Three-dimensional models of the organs and tissues most often encountered in general and gastrointestinal surgery. Pick an organ from the list, then rotate the stage or step through the preset viewing angles.
Organs
The models are schematic; scale and colour are arranged for teaching.
Drag to rotate, and use the scroll wheel or two fingers to zoom.
Liver
Hepatobiliary system (incl. gallbladder)
The largest parenchymal organ of the abdomen, responsible for bile production, metabolic conversion and detoxification. The bile it produces is concentrated and stored in the gallbladder attached to its visceral surface, then released into the biliary tree with a meal. Resection planning follows the segmental anatomy defined by the vascular and biliary structures rather than the classical lobes.
- Position
- Right upper quadrant, directly beneath the diaphragm
- Segmental anatomy
- Eight segments in the Couinaud classification
- Blood supply
- Dual inflow: portal vein and hepatic artery
- Gallbladder
- In the fossa on the visceral surface, adjacent to segments IV-V; concentrates and stores bile
- Biliary tree
- The right and left hepatic ducts join as the common hepatic duct; the cystic duct joins it to form the common bile duct
- Surgical relevance
- Hepatic veins, bile ducts and the portal pedicle define the resection plane
- In cholecystectomy
- Exposing the cystic duct and cystic artery unambiguously within Calot's triangle before division — the critical view of safety — is the basis for avoiding bile duct injury
Gallbladder
Hepatobiliary system
The pear-shaped organ that concentrates and stores the bile produced by the liver, contracting with a meal to empty it through the cystic duct into the common bile duct. It is the subject of cholecystectomy, the most frequently performed operation in general surgery.
- Position
- In the fossa on the visceral surface of the liver, between segments IV and V
- Parts
- Fundus, body, infundibulum and neck; the neck continues as the cystic duct
- Capacity
- Concentrates and stores roughly 30-50 mL of bile
- Bile flow
- The cystic duct joins the common hepatic duct to form the common bile duct, which opens into the duodenum
- Surgical relevance
- Exposing the cystic duct and cystic artery unambiguously within Calot's triangle — the critical view of safety — is the basis for avoiding bile duct injury
Marked structures
- Fundus
- Body
- Infundibulum
- Neck
- Biliary tree
Pancreas
Digestive and endocrine system
A mixed gland producing both digestive enzymes and the hormones that regulate blood sugar. Its retroperitoneal position and close relation to the major vessels make this one of the technically most demanding regions in abdominal surgery.
- Position
- Retroperitoneal, behind the stomach; head, neck, body and tail
- Relations
- The C-loop of the duodenum and the porto-mesenteric venous confluence
- Blood supply
- Branches of the coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric artery
- Surgical relevance
- Shared blood supply with the duodenum means head lesions are assessed together with it
Intestines
Digestive system
The absorptive and storage portion of the digestive tract. The small intestine is the centre of nutrient absorption, the large intestine of water and electrolyte recovery; both host a substantial part of the immune system.
- Small intestine
- Duodenum, jejunum and ileum
- Large intestine
- Caecum, colonic segments and rectum
- Blood supply
- Superior and inferior mesenteric arteries with marginal artery collaterals
- Surgical relevance
- Resection margins and anastomotic safety follow the segment's vascular and lymphatic territory
Kidneys
Urinary system
The paired organs that maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, acid-base regulation and waste clearance. For general surgery their significance lies in the relations that must be recognised during retroperitoneal dissection.
- Position
- Retroperitoneal, on either side of the spine, roughly at T12-L3
- Relations
- Liver and duodenum on the right; spleen, pancreatic tail and splenic flexure on the left
- Blood supply
- Renal artery and vein; the ureter continues from the renal pelvis
- Surgical relevance
- Early identification of the ureter and renal vessels is part of safe colonic and pancreatic dissection
Skin & Soft Tissue
Integumentary system
The outer covering of the body, serving as barrier, thermal regulator and sensory organ. Its layered structure underpins both incision planning and wound healing, and is the setting for the superficial lesions general surgery encounters most often.
- Layers
- Epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous fat and the underlying fascia
- Blood supply
- Subdermal and dermal vascular plexuses
- Wound healing
- Inflammatory, proliferative and remodelling phases
- Surgical relevance
- Aligning incisions with skin tension lines and repairing layer by layer shapes the quality of healing
Appointment and contact details
The models and descriptions on this page are for general information only; the anatomical renderings are schematic and do not replace individual diagnosis or treatment advice.
The gallbladder model is adapted from the Z-Anatomy atlas (originally BodyParts3D, The Database Center for Life Science) and is shared under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.