If you've tried the Biosphera modules, please let us know what you thought of them.
Biosphera is a series of interactive models that explore animal anatomy through fully virtual dissections. Penn Libraries subscribes to 10 modules: Bird, Bovine, Cat, Dog, Horse, Pig, Rat, Fish, Frog and Frog Skeleton.
This video shows the basic functions of the interface.
3D Rat Anatomy Video - this video shows someone going through the features of the interactive model
When you open the software, the initial screen will display the whole animal.
The buttons on the left menu allow you to control which anatomical systems you wish to view.
The systems have more than one layer. One click and the most superficial layer becomes semi-transparent; another click and it is completely hidden. This allows you to view deeper layers. Each layer button also works as a slider, which allows you to gradually change the visibility of the layers. Just drag the mouse from right to left over the button to see the layers gradually fade away.
The buttons on the right side of the screen allow you to perform a number of functions, detailed in the Right-side Controls section.
The modules are housed on some of the computers in our Remote Desktop Lab pool, so that they can be accessed on- and off-campus. Below are instructions for logging into the RDL. Additional instructions for off-campus access.
On the desktop, look for t
he folder labeled Veterinary Anatomy.
You cannot save files or settings on the Remote Lab PC. So, be sure to save any work to Google Drive, Box, OneDrive, Canvas or some other cloud storage system.
To disconnect from the remote computer click on the Start menu icon in the lower left corner of the window. Click the word “Power” and then click on “Disconnect”
Right-side controls:
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Search →Opens a search box. Enter the first few letters of a structure name to perform a search through all structures contained in the animal model. |
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Background color→ Switches the background color from light to dark, making it easier to see structures such as bones and ligaments. |
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Configuration→ Opens a settings window that allows you to change the language, text size, rotation speed and touch sensitivity. The “notch” button must be activated on smartphones with a notch on the screen (area that accommodates the front camera and sensors). |
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Remove all layers→Hides all the structures of the animal model. |
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Anatomical planes → It allows viewing the three main anatomical planes |
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Auto rotation→Allows a more dynamic visualization of the model. |
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Home (reset) →Returns the animal model go back to the initial settings, as it is presented at the time the app is opened |
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Female / Male → lets you switch between the female and male reproductive system. |
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Zoom control → Controls the size of the animal model on the screen. |
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Move → Move the animal model to the sides, up and down. |
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Rotate → Rotates the model. |
Clicking on any structure will highlighted it (blue) and display a caption in your chosen language. One click on the structure will pin its caption. Click it again to hide the caption.
To select one or more structures, simply click on it. The structure will be highlighted (pink). Selected structures can be hidden by clicking the “remove” button. In this way, organs that are located deeper can be better visualized.
To once again display a hidden structure, just click the “include” button.
Sometimes we will want only one system to be displayed on the screen. The easiest way to do this is clicking the “remove all layers” button to hide all structures. Then select the system that you wish to be displayed by clicking on the corresponding button (left menu). In the example below, the rat nervous system was selected.
