OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of virtual reality technology in neurosurgical anatomy we compared the virtual three-dimensional (3D) microanatomy of the temporal bridging veins as part of the resection of tumors across the petrosal crest in 25 patients against the actual microanatomy of the temporal bridging veins on 20 cadaveric head sets. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The experiment was carried out by two groups of data: a virtual group made of 25 clinical cases and a physical body group made of 20 cadaveric head sets. In the physical body group, the temporal bridging veins on the cadaveric heads were examined under the microscope from the number of their tributaries to termination and measure the distance between emptying point on sinus of labbé vein and sigmoid transverse sinus. In the virtual group, the dissection of the temporal bridging veins was simulated on Dextroscope. We compared the anatomical features of temporal bridging veins in two groups. Virtual reality technology was used in the planning of 25 cases for which the anatomy of temporal bridging veins needed to be studied carefully by the neurosurgical team. RESULTS: Four basic configurations of veins were found: venous lakes running in the tentorium before emptying the sinuses 17.5% (7 hemispheres), candelabra of veins uniting to form one large drainage 40% (16 hemispheres), single independent draining veins 20% (8 hemispheres) and multiple independent draining veins 22.5% (9 hemispheres) in physical body group, venous lake16% (8 hemispheres), candelabra of veins uniting to form one large drainage 42% (21 hemispheres), single independent draining veins 18% (9 hemispheres) and multiple independent draining veins 24% (12 hemispheres) in virtual group. 213 tributaries (85 drainage to labbé veins) and 87 terminations of temporal bridging veins were found in cadaveric heads, whereas 167 tributaries (80 to labbé veins) and 81 terminations of temporal bridging veins were found in the virtual group. The distribution of anatomical terminations of temporal bridging veins were divided into three groups: transverse area 52.87% (46) tentorium area 24.13% (21) and petrosal area 23.10% (20) in physical body group, whereas 54.35% (50) 23.91% (22) and 21.74% (20) in virtual group, respectively. The proportion of fore-placed type veins of labbé is 7.69% in physical body group and 8.33% in virtual group (P>0.05). The distance from the emptying point of the labbé veins to the sigmoid transverse point in the virtual group was 18.75 ± 1.95 mm, in the physical body group was 20.12 ± 2.51 mm (P>0.05). The anatomical features of labbé veins found during the operation of the 25 patients with tumors extended from middle fossa to posterior fossa and were identical to what was seen in presurgical planning. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual reality technology can accurately simulate the anatomical feature of the temporal bridging veins which facilitates the planning of individual operations in neurosurgery.