The pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) is a bilateral space deep within the skull that serves as a major neurovascular junction. However, its small volume and poor accessibility make it a difficult space to comprehend using two‐dimensional illustrations and cadaveric dissections. A three‐dimensional (3D) printed model of the PPF was developed as a visual and kinesthetic learning tool for completely visualizing the fossa, its boundaries, its communicating channels, and its neurovascular structures. The model was evaluated by analyzing student performance on pre‐ and post‐quizzes and a student satisfaction survey based on the five‐point Likert scale. The first cohort comprised of 88 students who had never before studied the PPF. The second cohort consisted of 30 students who were previously taught the PPF. Each cohort was randomly divided into a control group who were provided with a half skull and an intervention group that were provided with the 3D printed model. The intervention group performed significantly better on the post‐quiz as compared to the control group in cohort I (P = 0.001); while not significant, it also improved learning in cohort II students (P = 0.124). Satisfaction surveys indicated that the intervention group found the 3D printed model to be significantly more useful (P < 0.05) as compared to the half skull used by the control group. Importantly, the effect sizes for cohorts I and II (0.504 and 0.581, respectively) validated the statistical results. Together, this study highlights the importance of 3D printed models as teaching tools in anatomy education.

中文翻译：

---

翼龙窝的三维打印模型显着增强了学习体验。

翼ery窝（PPF）是颅骨内深处的双边空间，是主要的神经血管交界处。但是，它的体积小且可访问性差，因此很难使用二维插图和尸体解剖来理解它。开发了PPF的三维（3D）打印模型，作为视觉和动觉学习工具，用于完全可视化窝，其边界，其沟通通道及其神经血管结构。通过在测验前后的学生表现分析以及基于五点李克特量表的学生满意度调查，对模型进行了评估。第一组包括88名从未学习过PPF的学生。第二组包括30名先前曾教过PPF的学生。每个队列被随机分为对照组和对照组，干预组分别提供了一个半颅骨和一个干预组，该组提供了3D打印模型。与队列I的对照组相比，干预组在测验后的表现明显更好（P  = 0.001）；虽然不显着，但它也改善了第二代学生的学习（P  = 0.124）。满意度调查表明，与对照组相比，干预组发现3D打印模型的实用性更高（P  <0.05）。重要的是，队列I和队列II的效应量（分别为0.504和0.581）验证了统计结果。总之，这项研究突出了3D打印模型作为解剖学教学中教学工具的重要性。