The production of testis biomodels using three-dimensional (3D) technologies.

This study aimed to investigate the potentiality of biomodels to be produced as alternative tools to slaughterhouse materials in andrology education. For this purpose, testis biomodels were produced with reference to bull testes. The biomodel production was carried out by the following steps: the preparation of the reference organs, 3D modelling, and processing of data sets and stages. The biomodels and reference testes were compared in terms of morphological parameters and tonicity. As a result of quantitative measurements, the average length in the reference testicles was 145.56 ± 21.3 mm, while the thickness was 61.94 ± 17.2 mm. The average length, thickness, volume and tonicity values of the biomodels showed similarity to the values of the reference testicles (p > .05). However, it was recorded that the average weight of the reference testicles was determined as 368.07 ± 40.3 g, while the average weight of the biomodels was 69.02 ± 3.18 g (p < .01). As a result, it has been shown that testis biomodels can be successfully produced using three-dimensional technologies. These biomodels are the first examples in the field. We think that the biomodels produced by using innovative technologies should be considered as serious alternatives, which could contribute to the learning processes of students, especially in andrology education.