EHSLibrary » interactive 3-D models

Zygote Body: new online tool for learning

Todd Vandenbark — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:13:58 +0000

Originally the Google Body Browser, Zygote Body is a 3-D model of the human body that users can browse, peel back “layers” of organs, and even search using a simple search box. Click on a part of the body and a label appears, with the capability of “pinning” it in place. Rolling your mouse wheel lets you zoom in quickly, and a quick click-and-drag turns the body 360-degrees.

And while it does not require any special plugins (Flash, Java, etc.) to run, it does require that users have a WebGL-enabled browser, which the Safari web browser on the iPad 2 currently does not. As a free website for elementary and secondary education, it is a great resource. If you need a 3-D human anatomy app for your iPad, the iMedicalApps blog recently posted about the “Top 4 iPad anatomy medical apps,” which are:

Do you use a 3-D anatomy app or website? What do you like or dislike about it? Tell us!

Mobile app for gross anatomy: Muscle System Pro II

Todd Vandenbark — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:40:10 +0000

As reviewed in iMedicalApps, Muscle System Pro II “is one of the best apps for gross anatomy related to muscular system.” It makes good use of basic features of the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch such as tap-to-zoom, pinch and zoom, and swipe gestures. “Users can rotate, cut, zoom, and view animations of the body gaining an understanding of the complex anatomy associated with the musculoskeletal system.” The app opens by presenting users with a 3-D model of the human body.

With the app’s tools, users can:

Add or remove up to 10 layers of muscles with the Scalpel
Rotate muscles vertically and horizontally
Move laterally between muscle groups
Turn on standard pin-style labels which illustrate major musculoskeletal points in each view
Test themselves using the Quiz function.

This app is currently prices at $19.99. As of this writing, the page in the iTunes store for this app indicates that the developer, 3D4Medical.com, has “agreed to extend the price reduction for this app for another few weeks.”

Pros

High-quality 3-D muscle images that can be easily manipulated.
Quiz function
Detailed information about muscle groups via pin labels

Cons: it lacks some information regarding skeletal components of the systems.

Do you use this app? Tell us about it!

STAT!Ref’s Anatomy TV: a great resource

Todd Vandenbark — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:24:55 +0000

As part of the Library’s subscription to STAT!Ref, patrons have access to Anatomy.tv, which is a

“suite of 3D interactive models of human anatomy. Intuitive controls allow the user to zoom, rotate and peel away layers to educate and communicate with an ease and directness that was never possible with print. A wealth of supporting media, MRIs, X-rays, live-action movies and animations are also included to supplement Anatomy.tv’s high resolution, computer-generated models” (from the website).

When you open Anatomy.tv, you are presented with an interactive image of a human skeleton. As you mouse over different areas, outlines of each area appear with a label naming it. You can add different layers, such as arteries and nerves, by clicking on folders to the right. Anatomy.tv also includes movies that show how different parts of the body work, such as “Abduction & adduction of the MCP joints.” Some areas of the body, such as the spine, also include images from MRI scans paired with computer-generated 3-D models for comparison. You can bookmark images, or save them to your computer. Finally, there is a “Clinical” button which brings up quick reference explanations about different aspects of anatomy such as related diseases, deformities, trauma and more.

Try it, and let us know what you think!