Seahorse

Abstract

Seahorse belongs to the genus Hippocampus, a strange sea creature with its head resembling that of a horse. Seahorses are found in tropical and temperature zone shallow and sheltered waters throughout the world.
Seahorses are used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a tonic food. They are believed to enhance the Yin component of the Yin-Yang concept of health imbalance in TCM concept of health and disease. Seahorses are also associated with the liver and kidney meridians. As such, they are useful in conditions such as asthma, arteriosclerosis, incontinence, impotence, high cholesterol, throat infections, insomnia and many other ailments. They can also be applied to the skin to treat sores and infections.
The imaging data of the artwork was derived from computed tomography (CT) examination of a dried seahorse bought from a local traditional Chinese medicine shop in Hong Kong (Figures A and B). Thin-section (0.5mm) volumetric data, acquired with a 64-section multi-detector CT scanner, were then processed with medical 3D software (Vitrea 2.0) for 3D reconstruction. The 3D image was then further modified using the 'Rainbow Technique' developed by Dr Kai-hung Fung (Figure C) [1]. The 3D image of the seahorse was further manipulated in virtual reality. Figure D is a virtual endoscopic view inside the thorax of the seahorse looking towards the tail of the seahorse.