Are you an anatomy and physiology student? If so, you may be looking for a new way to study.
Studying anatomy and physiology can be a lot of work, but it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and research in your field. That can mean keeping up with new apps that are available for studying these subjects.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best apps for anatomy and physiology students. Whether you’re working on a project or just need help understanding where your body parts are located, these apps can help!
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13 Best Anatomy Apps For Medical Students [In 2022]
January 8, 2022
9 min read
The study of anatomy dates back more than 20 centuries to the Ancient Greeks. Its history is characterized by a progressive knowledge of the structure and organs inside the human body.
Most of the advancements have been made in the past century only. This includes non-invasive methods for examining the interior structures of the body, such as X-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. These techniques have made it possible to study internal structure in unprecedented detail.
Plus, the advent of smartphone computing has radically changed the medical industry. It not only helps healthcare workers practice evidence-based medicine but also allows patients to monitor their medical conditions.
Smartphone apps play a very crucial role in medical education as well. Numerous apps are designed solely to help people working in healthcare. Although the importance and necessity of these applications are hard to estimate, they do take a sound understanding of health responsibilities to a new level.
Below, we have gathered some of the best anatomy apps for biological scientists, doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, prosthetists, nurses, paramedics, and all medical students who need knowledge of anatomy.
- Skeleton | 3D Anatomy
Pros
360° view of anatomical models
Automatically moves the center of rotation for easier navigation
High resolution textures up to 4K
Cons
Limited payment options to unlock the full version
Platform: Android | iOS | macOS
Price: Free | $1.99 in-app purchases
Skeleton allows you to interact with highly detailed anatomical models in unique ways.
All bones of the human skeleton are constructed in 3D. You can move, zoom in/out, and rotate each model and observe it from any angle. Frame the view on the selected model and hide the selected anatomical part to analyze specific segments in detail.
Tap or click a pin to visualize the terms related to a specific anatomical part. The app can show you the name of each bone and structure in 11 different languages (and in two languages at the same time).
The 3D anatomical models of the skull, upper limb, and trunk are available for free. However, to unlock all body regions, you need to purchase the premium version of the app.
- Gray’s Anatomy – Anatomy Atlas
Pros
Simple, easy interface
Includes simple explanations of difficult terms
Find images quickly with the search tool
Works offline
Cons
Image quality can be improved
Platform: Android
Price: Free | Ad-free version costs $1.99
Gray’s Anatomy presents a vivid depiction of anatomical structures. It consists of detailed illustrations, surface anatomy, and clinical images that can help you prepare for course exams.
The content within the app is logically organized. For instance,
Anatomy System contains skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, and sensory systems, etc.
Anatomy Position contains head, neck, back, limb, abdomen, thorax, and pelvis and perineum position.
Medical Quiz contains liver, cardiac, pathology, diabetes, and first aid quizzes.
It also has a medical dictionary that defines difficult terms and phrases in simple explanations. You will find some textbook-level definitions too.
Overall, the app is not only designed for medical students but for all people who want to understand how the human body looks and works.
- Essential Skeleton
Pros
Audio pronunciation, Latin nomenclature and description for each bone
Multiple search options
Create pins and place them anywhere on the 3d model
Cons
Not updated reguarly
Platform: iOS | macOS
Price: Free
Essential Skeleton is a visually stunning medical app that covers more-than-basic information about the human skeletal system. It allows you to analyze and fly through a 3D rendering of the skeleton.
You can easily customize individual bones and view the skeleton from different angles. Select multiple bones, isolate, fade or hide them. When you zoom in and tap on a bone, you will see its name in English and Latin. There is also an option to hear the audio pronunciation of the bone’s name.
If you want to analyze things in detail, you can place multiple layers of muscles, arteries, organs, veins, and nerves on the skeleton. Every individual part can be removed or taken away to focus on discrete subsections.
The app is built on a cutting-edge 3D graphics engine, which is developed specifically to maximize what can be with anatomical models on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Perhaps the best part about this standalone app is it does not contain any in-app purchases. It is completely free.
- Visual Anatomy
Pros
Includes 3D rotational models
Pronunciation guide for all anatomy terms
Quick navigation
No internet connection is required
Cons
Interface looks outdated
Platform: Android | iOS
Price: Free | Premium version costs $2.99
Visual Anatomy is an interactive reference and education tool that contains over 500 HD images and 850 feature points, each with its own label and short description.
It comes with an intelligent search box. When you input more than one character, the search box suggests a list of potential keywords. Select one keyword from the suggested list, and it will show you the feature point on the anatomy image and label. Several quizzes with multi-choice questions are also included to test how much you’ve learned from the app.
While the app is primarily designed as a learning tool for medical students, it can also be used by educators and professionals who need the occasional reminder.
The premium version gives you access to the muscle index table, 100+ major muscle action movies, 200+ bone markers, 150 more quizzes, and audio pronunciation for all anatomy terms.
- TeachMeAnatomy
Pros
Includes 400 comprehensive articles covering every aspect of anatomy
1,200 HD anatomy illustrations and clinical images
Everything is stored offline for quick access
Cons
Most of the content is locked behind a pay wall
Platform: Android | iOS
Price: Free | Premium version costs $7 per month
TeachMeAnatomy is a comprehensive anatomy encyclopedia presented in a visually appealing, easy-to-read format. It contains more than 400 topics and over 1,200 illustrations and clinical images.
Topics are categorized into numerous groups like The Head, Neuroanatomy, The Thorax, The Back, The Upper Limb, The Lower Limb, The Abdomen, and more. Each topic combines anatomical knowledge with high-yield clinical pearls, bridging the gap between learning and patient care. Everything is stored online for quick access.
There are over 1,700 multiple choice questions with explanations to strengthen your anatomy knowledge. TeachMeAnatomy also tracks how well you performed in quizzes.
The premium version of the app gives you cross-platform, ad-free access to all 3D anatomy models and articles.
- Anatomy & Physiology
Pros
Brief animations introduce complex physiology
Hundreds of microscope images showing body tissues
Track progress with learning objective checklists
Cons
Expensive for what it offers
Platform: Android | iOS
Price: $34.99 | 7-day free trial available
Anatomy & Physiology gives you a step-by-step visual introduction to the human body system. It uses 3D animations and video tutorials to present the core concepts in the simplest way possible.
The app teaches you about the core functions of the human body, including skeletal, cells and tissues, nervous, circulatory, endocrine, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive.
You can zoom in to analyze how nerves exit the spinal cord, rotate the 3D structure to study the branches of the cranial nerves, and watch a short animated video explaining the physiology of muscle contractions.
Anatomy & Physiology includes 12 units. Each unit presents a human body system in a series of chapters, with small visual interactivities and quizzes. Also, there are options to create notes, save items to access later, track progress, and share content with others.
- Anatomy Learning – 3D Anatomy Atlas
Pros
Includes over 6,000 anatomical structures
500+ muscle movement animations
1,000+ quizzes to test your knowledge
Cons
Requires at least 4GB of RAM to work smoothly
Platform: Android | WebGL Browser
Price: Free | $0.99 – $20.00 in-app purchases
Built on an advanced interactive 3D touch interface, Anatomy Learning allows you to explore the human body in real-time.
You can visualize every internal part in 3D, including muscles, organs, and nerves. There is so much you can do to interact with even the tiniest body parts — Rotate models to different angles, zoom in/out, and remove structures to see the anatomical structures below them. It also includes options to add, combine, and delete anatomical structures.
The app is 3D modeled by physicians and anatomy experts. It supports multiple languages, including Chinese, Japanese, German, Spanish, French, and Polish.
If you are using this app on an old smartphone, try not to load too many anatomical structures at once. Otherwise, the app will crash without any warning. If you still experience lags, reduce the graphic quality from Menu >> Setting >> Quality.
- Essential Anatomy
Pros
8,200+ highly detailed anatomical structures
Slice through certain structures through a 3D plane tool
Isolate, hide, or fade individual structures
Compare numerous structures with Multiple Selection
Cons
Android app is quite buggy
Platform: Android | iOS
Price: $14.99 | Offers in-app purchases
Essential Anatomy is nothing short of phenomenal. It is packed with interactive, 3D anatomical models for learning and reference purposes on mobile devices. These models are developed to allow for more detail and exceptional performance.
With more than 8,200 structures, Essential Anatomy is the gold standard in medical reference applications. It contains both male and female models, with 11 complete systems. These include Skeletal, Muscular, Connective Tissue, Nervous, Arterial, Venous, Lymphatic, Skin, Respiratory, Digestive, and Urogenital. You can strip away several layers of muscle through a “layering” tool.
Every structure contains a Latin nomenclature and audio English pronunciation, along with a detailed description. The app gives you options to view structures in isolation and manipulate them independently. It makes it easy to understand relationships between adjacent structures and compare different structures.
Overall, it’s one of the most detailed anatomy apps to explore and compare differences between male and female structures.
- Complete Anatomy
Pros
More than 17,000 structures and 1,500 videos
Cut, dissect and annotate the model
Compare side-by-side with radiology images
Augmented Reality mode on supported devices
Cons
Expensive
Platform: Android | iOS | Windows | macOS
Price: $0.99 – $99.00 in-app purchases | 3-day trial available
Complete Anatomy is designed for remote teaching and learning. It’s not just an atlas but a comprehensive anatomy learning platform with ground-breaking technology and unique content.
The platform has some of the most detailed human anatomy models, with thousands of independent interactive structures. For instance, it includes a beating, dissectible human heart in full 3D.
You can view radiological images along with hundreds of interactive 3D models and over 28 stunning microscopic anatomy models. Plus, there are more than 1,500 clinical videos on Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Dentistry, Cardiology, and Fitness.
The app features real-time muscle motion, bone surface and landmark mapping, dynamic cross-sections, nerve tracer, and blood supply tracer. You will also find some creative tools like virtual dissection.
If you have a student license, you get access to all 3D models and a vast library of curated learning materials.
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Other Equally Good Anatomy Apps
- Anatomyka
Platform: Android | iOS | Windows | macOS
Price: Free | $2.99 for one-month subscription
With Anatomyka, you can learn about human anatomy in all its breathtaking complexity. The app is designed for students, teachers, professionals, and anyone with a casual interest in the human body.
All structures and organs are accompanied by medically accurate descriptions, which are taken from an ultimate anatomical resource, Memorix Anatomy. The content is arranged into a proper anatomical hierarchy, so you learn things in a structured and simple way.
You can select from various themes (cartoon style, dark atlas, dark space, classic atlas) for a better visual experience, and set your own color for structures or organs for effective memorizing.
The free version lets you explore the anatomy, with more than 4,500 landmarks on display with easy-to-understand descriptions. If you want to learn about every organ in greater detail, you can opt for a 5-day free trial.
- 3D Bones and Organs
Platform: Android | iOS
Price: Free
Built on an advanced interactive 3D touch interface, 3D Bones and Organs is a completely free app for learning human anatomy with interesting quizzes. It contains details of every bone and organ in the human body.
Since models are constructed in 3D, you can rotate them to any angle. Peel muscle layers and observe the anatomical structures below them. There is an option to save (or bookmark) the system for further reading.
The app has 3D ligaments, muscles, respiratory system, nervous system, ear, urinary system, and reproductive organ (of both male and female).
- BioDigital Human
Platform: Android | iOS | Browser-based
Price: Free | Premium version costs $20 per year
BioDigital Human is an interactive 3D system for visualizing anatomy, disease, and treatment. It is used by numerous reputed education companies and medical schools.
The platform is also referred to as “Google Maps for the Human body” (because it’s a precise, virtual map of a human body). It consists of both male and female 3D anatomy models, which include more than 20 regional and system-based anatomy models, and over 700 interactive 3D health condition models in 8 different languages.
The free version gives you access to 10 models per month and allows you to store up to 5 models in your personal library. To get unlimited access to the entire library of 3D models, you need to upgrade to the premium version.
- e-Anatomy
Platform: Android | iOS
Price: $13 per month or $90 per year
Although e-Anatomy is primarily designed for physicians, radiologists, and medical imaging professionals to assist in analyzing radiological scans, it can also benefit nurses, medical students, and other users seeking a professional understanding of human anatomy.
The app contains more than 15,000 high-quality images, which include a set of pictures in axial, coronal, and sagittal views as well as angiography, radiography, dissection photos, anatomical charts, and illustrations. Each image is accurately labeled, with over 850,000 labels available in 12 languages.
Other features include Clinical Cases and eCourses, which provide various interacting content, such as practice exams, multiple-choice questions, and workshops specifically developed for medical students.
The only drawback of this app is that it requires a fast Internet connection to download high-definition images. However, once the model is loaded, all of the features work seamlessly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to learn anatomy fast?
In order to understand the macroscopic and microscopic structures of the human body, you need to learn about 8,000 anatomical terms. This seems a huge number, but you can follow these strategies to accelerate your learning —
Find the meaning of the word
Link the anatomical term to the structure by forming a mental picture
Create your own abbreviation for the term
Read case studies
Develop a habit of reviewing what you’ve learned on a daily basis
What is the best free anatomy app?
Sobotta Anatomy is a completely free app to learn human anatomy and test your skills. It consists of 40 detailed anatomical figures for medical school training and testing. You will find a total of 25,000 precisely placed pins on the musculoskeletal system, head, neck, and internal organs.
Which one is the most detailed 3D anatomy software for PC?
BioDigital is the most complete, scientifically accurate, interactive 3D human body model ever constructed. It includes both male and female anatomy, in which all structures are systematically organized, labeled, and dissectable for easy configuration.
Read: 13 Different Types Of Scientists
The platform also allows you to explore human diseases and health conditions in interactive 3D. It contains details of more than 600 health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and different types of cancer.
Written by
Varun Kumar
Varun Kumar is a professional science and technology journalist and a big fan of AI, machines, and space exploration. He received a Master’s degree in computer science from GGSIPU University. To find out about his latest projects, feel free to directly email him at varunkmr09@gmail.com.
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