3D Modeling and volumetric analysis of skull cavities in different canine skull types

The canine skull exhibits remarkable morphological diversity due to selective breeding, resulting in distinct variations in internal cavity volume. This study aims to evaluate the volumetric distribution and ratios of the cranial cavity (CC), nasal cavity (NC), and sinus cavity (SC) across different skull types - dolichocephalic, mesocephalic, and brachycephalic - from a clinical anatomy perspective. Twenty-one canine skulls obtained from the Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Anatomy, were analyzed using computed tomography (CT) imaging and 3D Slicer software for volumetric reconstruction. Additionally, physical replicas were produced using FDM-based 3D printing technology to evaluate their potential as educational and surgical planning tools. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the CC/NC (p=0.014) and CC/SC (p=0.009) ratios, with brachycephalic dogs exhibiting a relatively larger cranial cavity in proportion to their nasal cavity. Conversely, no significant difference in the NC/SC ratio was detected among the morphotypes (p=0.287), suggesting a constant proportional relationship between the nasal and sinus cavities regardless of skull shape. These findings provide quantitative confirmation of the anatomical respiratory constraints in brachycephalic breeds, characterized by a significant reduction in nasal cavity volume. The study concludes that 3D-modeled volumetric ratios can provide objective breed-specific pathologies and that 3D-printed models can serve as effective tactile tools in veterinary medical education and virtual surgical planning.