BIX-A1107 Guide: Teaching the Brainstem as a Place, Not a List

Short answer: The BIX-A1107 is an enlarged brainstem model built from two halves of a sagittal section. It shows the parts of the brainstem — midbrain, pons and medulla — together with the inter-brain (diencephalon) and the cranial nerves, and it carries 67 indications. The model measures 14.5 × 12 × 18 cm and is listed at a reference price of US $61.88, subject to order quantity.

Key takeaways

• Two sagittal halves that separate, so internal and external surfaces can be taught in sequence
• Covers midbrain, pons, medulla, the inter-brain and the cranial nerves on one specimen
• 67 numbered indications — an unusually dense labelling set for a single brainstem model
• Bench-scale at 14.5 × 12 × 18 cm; it fits a small-group table
• Reference price US $61.88 per unit, subject to order quantity

What the model contains

Why the brainstem is the hardest hour in neuroanatomy

The brainstem is where students stop being able to learn by picture. Dozens of named structures sit within a few centimetres of each other, and the clinical consequences of confusing them are severe — a lesion a few millimetres away changes the whole presenting syndrome.

Physically, the region is small and deeply placed, which is exactly why a scaled-up sagittal specimen earns its place on the bench. The comparative evidence supports the format: a meta-analysis of comparative studies found that physical models are effective in anatomy teaching [1], and a later controlled comparison reported that three-dimensional physical models outperformed two-dimensional computer presentations for anatomy learning [2]. For a structure whose whole difficulty is spatial, that distinction is not academic.

There is also a functional reason to pair structure with purpose. The brainstem is not a map of names but the seat of vital automatic function: the pre-Bötzinger complex, a small region of the ventral medulla, was identified as a site that may generate the respiratory rhythm in mammals [3]. A student who has physically separated the medulla from the pons has a far better chance of remembering which functions sit where.

Running a session with the A1107

• External landmarks first. Teach the ventral surface with the halves together: pyramids, olives, peduncles, and the emergence of the cranial nerves.
• Then open it. Separate the sagittal halves and work through internal structure — the 67 indications make this a guided exercise rather than a lecture.
• Cranial nerves as a thread. Ask students to trace each cranial nerve from its apparent origin, because that single task integrates surface and internal anatomy.
• Build three stations. One station on the midbrain, one on the pons, one on the medulla; rotate groups on a fixed timer.
• Use it for recall, not just first exposure. Randomise the indications and ask students to name the structure, then justify the function.

What to check before you order

• Indication language. Ask whether the 67 labels are English or bilingual; the product page does not specify.
• Stand and finish. Confirm what is supplied with the model, since the page lists the model dimensions but not a stand.
• Quantity pricing. The US $61.88 figure is a reference price that varies with order quantity — request a written quotation for the volume you need.
• Curriculum match. Ask for the full list of the 67 indications and check it against your syllabus before committing.

FAQ

Q1. What is the BIX-A1107?
It is an enlarged brainstem model consisting of two parts of the sagittal section, showing the midbrain, pons, medulla, inter-brain and cranial nerves with 67 indications.

Q2. How large is the model?
It is an enlarged model measuring 14.5 × 12 × 18 cm.

Q3. How many structures are labelled?
Sixty-seven indications are marked on the model.

Q4. Can the model be taken apart?
Yes. It is supplied as two parts of the brainstem sagittal section, so the internal surface can be shown separately from the external one.

Q5. What does it cost?
The page lists a reference price of US $61.88, subject to order quantity. Request a written quotation for the exact volume you need.

Q6. How do I request a quotation or the label list?
Email adaanatomy@adaanatomy.com with the model (BIX-A1107), the quantity you are considering and your destination port; our export team will reply with pricing, lead time and configuration details.

Request a quotation

Email adaanatomy@adaanatomy.com for the BIX-A1107 price list and shipping details. If your programme covers the rest of the nervous system, the same brain-model range includes artery-and-nerve brain models and electric brainstem models, so a full neuroanatomy teaching set can be specified in one order.

References

1. The effectiveness of physical models in teaching anatomy: a meta-analysis of comparative studies. Advances in Health Sciences Education. 2016
2. The superiority of three-dimensional physical models to two-dimensional computer presentations in anatomy learning. Medical Education. 2018
3. Pre-Bötzinger complex: a brainstem region that may generate respiratory rhythm in mammals. Science. 1991