Project:

This collection of work was created to teach St. George’s University students about the muscles in the human body. The project was commissioned by Dr. Ramesh Rao, and Dr. Deepak Sharma. It is part of an ongoing effort to create 3D animated content on human anatomy for teaching purposes and St. George’s University. The content is used in the introductory level gross anatomy course at SGU to teach muscle origin and insertion, action, and the clinical significance of certain injuries. 3D animated content can show students how muscles contract and relax in a more lifelike way than a prosected donor and is a helpful addition to the standard learning in the gross anatomy lab.

The anatomy in these animations were sculpted in Maxon ZBrush using DICOM and photogrammetry data as reference. The models were then animated and rendered in Maxon Cinema 4D and composited in Adobe After Effects. Unless otherwise specified, all work shown was created entirely by Jack Nelson.    

Scapular Rotation, 2022

This animation was created to show the anatomy and action of the serratus anterior muscle and its role in rotating the scapula when raising the arm. The rotator cuff muscles were also included to show how they stabilize the shoulder joint. This project was also an opportunity for me to mentor Nicole Lekach, a former coworker at The Center for Biomedical Visualization. Over the course of the project I helped Nicole develop her skills in ZBrush, and Cinema 4D. 

Trendelenburg Gait, 2019

The anatomy in these animations were sculpted in Maxon ZBrush using DICOM and photogrammetry data as reference. The models were then animated and rendered in Maxon Cinema 4D and composited in Adobe After Effects. Unless otherwise specified, all work shown was created entirely by Jack Nelson.    

Spaces of the Head and Neck, 2022

These animations were designed to teach the action of the diaphragm muscle. One shows how a healthy diaphragm functions as well as the major structures that pass through it. The second animation shows a diaphragm with partial paralysis caused by a paralyzed phrenic nerve. The purpose of this animation is to help teach students studying anatomy at St. Georges University. Animated in Cinema 4D, composited in After Effects.

Skeletal Muscle Contraction, 2022

This animation shows the regions and action of a sarcomere, the basic contractile unit of muscle fiber. The animation was created to help teach medical students at St. Georges University. Created in Cinema 4D and composited in After Effects. 

Diaphragm Normal Function, 2019

Diaphragm Partial Paralysis, 2019

These animations were designed to teach the action of the diaphragm muscle. One shows how a healthy diaphragm functions as well as the major structures that pass through it. The second animation shows a diaphragm with partial paralysis caused by a paralyzed phrenic nerve. The purpose of this animation is to help teach students studying anatomy at St. Georges University. Animated in Cinema 4D, composited in After Effects.

The project was presented in the form of a Directed Learning Activity (DLA), which is provided to students for self-paced learning before their in person lecture as part of the flipped classroom model. You can learn more about the flipped classroom model here: flipped classrooms