Beyond the Body: Theorized Implications of Medical 3D Printing on Anatomical Perception

This research analyzes and theorizes the implications of 3D printed anatomical models becoming incorporated as commonplace tools in the medical field. In particular, it aims to examine how 3D printed visualizations fit into the existing dialogue about 2D medical visualizations and how error is incorporated during their production process, which can lead to inaccurate understanding of the anatomy. This work relies upon Donna Haraway’s perspectives on Cyborg Theory, through which she indicates how technology is described as granting an all-seeing perspective. In actuality, Haraway argues this vision is dependent on the context and the viewer rather than being removed and impartial. Using this framework, I posit that 3D printed medical visualizations are a form of scientific knowledge that is thought to be a one-to-one representation of the anatomy, but that these models are instead reflective of the biases of the producer and the imaging technology involved in the production process. I argue that there are many overlapping challenges between 2D and 3D visualization processes, and I find that there are additional complexities specific to 3D printed anatomical models that lead to distortion of these models. Another key effect that I believe to be shared by both 2D and 3D medical visualizations is disciplining of the human body, in which these depictions serve to disregard nuance and variations in the anatomy in favor of idealized models. Despite these current issues, I suggest that 3D anatomical models can play a valuable role in medical training if their limitations are more clearly acknowledged and discussed.

School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
STS Advisor: MC Forelle