Abstract
Technological advances in computers, diagnostic imaging, medical physics, biomedical engineering, and applied mathematics are the major driving forces in diagnosis and treatment. The term virtual reality (VR) refers to a human-computer interface that simulates a realistic environment while enabling user interaction. A virtual reality surgical simulator consists typically of five components, human body models (virtual patient), physical modeler, pathology modeler, virtual surgical instruments, and VR interface. Human body models are a critical component of a VR surgical simulator. These models encapsulate medical knowledge and provide means to predict, simulate, validate, and enhance the outcomes of diagnostic and surgical procedures.