Promoter: Sam Van Wassenbergh
​Supervisors: Tim De Ridder, Ilias Kotoulas
Subject: Research on vertebrate morphology increasingly employs state-of-the-art techniques such as micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to generate three-dimensional visualizations of organisms and their anatomical structures. Micro-CT imaging can provide valuable insights into muscle architecture and, consequently, contribute to our understanding of the functional mechanisms underlying animal movement. Preliminary data from the FunMorph Lab indicate that certain treatments in sample preparation prior to micro-CT scanning improve the definition of muscle fibres and the overall quality of the resulting DiceCT images. However, there is currently limited information on the effects of these treatments on the visualization and quantitative assessment of anatomical structures in vertebrate specimens.
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This project will investigate how different pre-scan preparation treatments affect the physical properties of the muscle tissue (volume, fibre length) and the overall quality of the micro-CT generated images in a quantified way. In this project, the student will gain hands-on experience in tissue staining techniques (DiceCT), preparing samples for micro-CT scanning, and using 3D image analysis software for segmentation, which are fundamental skills for studying the morphology of organisms. Additionally, the student will gain insights into the general anatomy of vertebrates and the applications of 3D modelling in the study of vertebrate morphology.
Techniques: DiceCT , segmentation and 3D model rendering of CT scans, automated fibre tracking