Linking a relational database of biological features to computer-aided reconstruction of tissue

The concept of harnessing the power of a standard mechanical computer-aided-design (MCAD) system (I-deas) for anatomical illustrations is explored, with ancillary information linked to the rendering by a commercial relational database (Paradox). The combined system is used to gather features found in tissue serial sections and to place them into a flexible database for further manipulation. Currently, the number of objects reconstructed by this system is limited only by disk space resources. Complex objects consisting, for instance, of bifurcations may be built from separate pieces. All Boolean operations found in the MCAD system are available for further dissection of the model. This database can be queried and then impressed upon the MCAD model for three-dimensional viewing