The human body in 3D

Examine this captivating animation 'building' a human—illustrating the roughly 40 weeks of fetal development.

Explore human anatomy with these beautiful images

The Human Organ Atlas offers detailed 3D images of dozens of human organs. It was created with very bright X-rays from a particle accelerator, which is formally called a synchroton imaging method.

Why yoga teachers are dissecting cadavers

Thousands of fitness professionals are choosing to attend cadaver workshops to improve their understanding of anatomy and their teaching abilities. Though 3D virtual models give students a fresh way to explore the human body, medical students say experiencing the intricacies in person is far more instructive. As fitness professionals increase their understanding of the muscular and skeletal systems, their movement cues and instructions evolve in tandem.

Explore 1,800+ exercises with an interactive muscle map that lets you click any muscle to see targeted exercises, including video tutorials and written instructions.

Take a 360-degree look at biochemical activity from within a human cell

In this tour, users can observe the dynamic processes that occur within the basic units of the human body, including the production and transport of proteins and the assembly and disassembly of microtubules—thin, cylindrical structures that provide structural support and a means of moving material within the cell.

Understand the complex, biological journey of pregnancy with this science explainer.

'Artificial embryos': The hidden steps in forming a spine

Somitogenesis is the process by which segmented body structures like vertebrae form in embryos. While the process is well understood in animals like mice or zebrafish it is difficult to study in humans. But now, researchers have created a model of somitogenesis, using pluripotent stem cells, called an axioloid.

Explore what each organelle does within various types of cells

In "Cell Anatomy Viewer," users can explore interactive illustrations of animal, plant, fungal, and bacterial cells. Clicking on an organelle, such as a lysosome, the nucleolus, or the Golgi complex, provides descriptions of its characteristics and functions.

Human anatomy provides evidence for evolution

Throughout history, scientists have used anatomy to support the Theory of Evolution in three main ways. Homologous structures, or similar physical features in organisms that serve different functions, can help scientists understand common ancestors....

An interactive guide to the cardiovascular system

The cardiovascular or circulatory system moves blood throughout the body, ensuring cells have necessary nutrients and removing any waste. Click through this interactive 3D guide to explore the system as it crisscrosses the body via arteries, veins, and capillaries. This guide also includes similar breakdowns of the body and its other processes.

Organoids: 3D organs grown from stem cells in the lab

An organoid is a three-dimensional construct composed of multiple cell types that originate from stem cells that can simulate the architecture and functionality of native organs. One big benefit of these lab-grown organs is that drug candidates can be tested in model systems without needing live patients.

Explore the heart in this interactive 3D model

The heart is the fleshy muscle at the heart (pun intended) of the circulatory system. The heart is segmented into four chambers: two for intake (the right side) and two for output (the left side). Controlled via the autonomic nervous system, also known as the involuntary nervous system, the heart typically beats 60 to 100 times per minute, sending nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.

A deep dive into how a body decomposes

Dead bodies are, understandably, scary and unsettling. Learn about the fascinating process of decomposition that takes place in every human, and how its teeming with life.

Human anatomy 101: the body's systems

Human life is made possible by the body's ten major systems, which maintain homeostasis by responding to incoming sensory and biochemical input. Each system must work independently and collaboratively for the body to maintain health and respond appropriately to its internal and external environments. The bones of the skeletal system, for example, give the body its shape and protect organs while also facilitating movement with the muscular system.

You can sign up to donate your body to science

It's a separate process to donate your body for medical research; you usually must contact a whole-body donation program directly. Bodies can be donated for medical research, for forensic analysis research, or for medical students to work with as they learn anatomy and surgery, among other purposes. Learn more about numerous accredited organizations that provide human bodies, organs, and tissues to medical researchers and students.

Explore the human family tree

This interactive human family tree shows the various species that constitute the human evolutionary family. Click on each species or group image to learn more.

Model organisms like yeast, mice, and flies help scientists decode the human body

Some species are used to quickly study the effects of human diseases and treatments because they are short-lived and have similar systems to those found in humans. Bacteria, like E. coli, have been used as human proxies given their rapid growth and ease of genetic manipulability.

Some medical schools have phased out human cadavers for digital alternatives

AI-based anatomy tools and digital cadavers are increasingly used to teach students, bypassing the ethical and consent concerns around the use of real bodies. Digital cadavers have also become less expensive than real ones, though the tactile and sensory experiences of real dissection may be irreplaceable.

Medical imaging allows 3D printers to create patient-matched devices

With imaging data on a person's anatomy, external prostheses and implants, such as cranial plates or hip joints, can be custom-printed to better match a patient's body. Fabrication of porous structures can promote bone growth, leading to longer-lasting implants.

Learn about the basic anatomy of mosquitoes

This short explainer video breaks down the mosquito's general body components, highlighting how mosquitoes breathe, fly, and more. It also touches on how experts can tell different mosquito species apart.

Explore an interactive 3D model of the brain

The brain contains about 86 billion neurons—nervous system cells—and controls vital bodily functions via electrochemical signals. Neurons form circuits through axons, and different brain regions use these circuits to perform specific tasks.

How 3D printing inside cells paves the way for microscopic machines

In 2026, scientists in Slovenia developed a method to 3D print a small elephant, several microscopic geometric objects, and barcodes for cell labeling within living human cells, which continued to grow and divide thereafter. The experiment opens the door to fabricating devices within cells to study and manipulate cellular functions.

Each part of the human body experiences aging differently

With global average life expectancy cresting at 73 years, understanding how the body ages is imperative to effective medical treatment and maintaining a desired quality of life. This 13-minute video dives into how the body and its organs age "from head to toe."

Explore these collections of early human fossils

The human fossil record is filled with massive gaps, leaving archaeologists tiny samples to try and glean the history of our species. At this site, you can browse through the human fossil collection, including 3D rotatable scans of hundreds of fossils from different species of early humans.

Breaking down the knee's anatomy

The human knee is a remarkably complex structure carrying the full weight of the body throughout a person's life while allowing a number of complex twists, flexes, and extensions. It's also one of the body's biggest weaknesses—the location of chronic pain and replacement surgeries for millions of Americans.

An interactive dive into the immune system

Our bodies are equipped with an incredible system able to fight off invasive pathogens to protect us from illness. The complicated system includes lymph nodes, the spleen, bone marrow, and even the tonsils. But this same system can turn against itself, a condition known as autoimmune disorders. Follow along with this thorough, engaging explainer on the human body's defense system.

Exploring the link between history, art, and anatomy

Throughout centuries, art has played a vital role in sharing—and furthering—scientific understanding. This largely began in 1543 when physician Andreas Vesalius worked with an artist and engraver to transform learnings from his dissections into...

View an illustrative journey of sperm cells navigating toward fertilization

In this series of comic-style panels, a "fellowship" of sperm cells travels through fictionalized versions of reproductive anatomy on their way to an egg cell. Each panel includes informative commentary on each step of the adventure, with research insights provided by a reproductive biologist, a biomedical scientist, and an andrologist.

View a gallery of images and videos of over 200 types of cells

Funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, the Cell Image Library houses over 60,000 pieces of media, including microscopic photographs, time-lapse videos of cellular activity, and 3D reconstructions of organic processes.

Like fingerprints, brain anatomy is unique too

Researchers have discovered that a combination of experiences and genetic factors shape the anatomy of the human brain. They found even quick experiences affect the brain’s genetic makeup, which—over time—means every person develops a completely unique brain anatomy. While brain imaging could be used to identify individuals, it remains much more expensive than fingerprinting for now. Read to found out more about this study from the University of Zurich.

Watch a salamander grow from fertilization to hatching

New microscopy techniques have allowed scientists to image the development of animal embryos with unprecedented detail. This six-minute time-lapse reveals the development of a salamander from initial fertilization to hatching from an egg.

The $3B project scientists called 'junk'

In 1990, scientists set out to map all of human DNA. A $3B bet many called "junk." But the Human Genome Project's radical transparency and a race with a private company sped it to completion in just 13 years. Today, that once-contested map underpins nearly every breakthrough in genetics and personalized medicine.

The syncytiotrophoblast is the outer layer of the placenta and the largest human cell, spanning an area about twice that of a king-sized bedsheet.

This is what happens inside your body when you're sick

This video details the biology of what happens inside the human body during illness.

Explore this week-by-week visualization of pregnancy

This graphic illustrates how development proceeds during each week of pregnancy, tracking what shifts and milestones typically occur during each stage of the process. It also includes typical weights of the fetus throughout.

Humans tend to imagine aliens as humanlike, but that's probably unlikely. Three different hypothetical planets show how aliens' bodies could take many forms.

3-parent baby approach may help women with infertility

Though the topline promise of this approach is avoiding passing on mitochondrial diseases, some researchers and companies have been eyeing its potential for helping with female infertility, since faculty mitochondria may contribute to the condition. Recent research suggests this approach could be promising.

A gallery of medical illustrations from NIH

The National Institutes of Health provides educational materials for broad use. The institute hosts a Flickr account with many different image galleries, including this one (with over 70 images to date) that illustrate and annotate curious phenomena, from the life cycles of a malaria parasite to the comparison of male and female bladders. Explore the gallery here.

The inner life of a cell

White blood cells are responsible for protecting the human body from infection. This video uses biophysical data from Harvard researchers to accurately demonstrate what goes on inside one white blood cell as it works within the immune system.

What does a beating human heart look like?

Tucked behind your rib cage and between your lungs sits your heart. This knot of cardiac muscle will (typically) beat billions of times throughout your lifetime, sending oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood throughout the body, powering countless biological processes that have enabled you to read this very paragraph. This two-minute video provides a glimpse of the mechanics happening inside your chest via an animated anatomical model.

Flip through centuries-old artifacts in this 3D library

Archaeology is hands-on work, giving researchers the ability to analyze artifacts from as many sides as possible to find marks left by those that came before us. While looking at pictures of artifacts gives you some insight, you're limited to...

Explore 3D models of some of the most dangerous viruses, allowing us to understand these and other pathogens in new ways.

Computed tomography scans use X-rays to create 3D internal images

Just as shadows can reveal the shape of obstacles blocking visible light, the donut-shaped CT scanner measures how X-rays are blocked, revealing the shape of bones, organs, tissue, and other matter along a cross-section. As it rotates, the scanner combines these cross-sections to build a model of the internal structure.

Explore a 3D model of the influenza virus

This interactive 3D model reveals the influenza virus’s structure—its outer coat and spike proteins—and compares it with other well-known viruses, offering a clear view of how flu differs from pathogens like HIV or coronaviruses.

The secret lives of cells

Cutting-edge microscopy has revealed previously unseen interactions of biological molecules within their cellular environment, enabling scientists to observe and analyze the molecules in a holistic view. This podcast explains the minute advancements made over the last few decades in observing cells, revealing how scientists have come and what the future holds for the field.

A real-time 3D-explorer of the solar system

NASA's Eyes on the Solar System allows you to track all kinds of objects in space in real time, from observatories like the James Webb Telescope to all manner of comets and asteroids. Zoom in and out, read up on space missions, and see the solar system from a totally new angle with this incredible interactive site. Jump in here.

Particle accelerators have been used to reveal detailed ant anatomy

Using a synchrotron facility at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, a pair of X-ray beams swept across about 2,200 ant specimens to create over 200 terabytes of projection images from multiple angles. The images were compiled into micrometer-resolution 3D reconstructions of 792 species, which are freely accessible on the Antscan platform.

A look at the concentrations of water in the human body and various organs

When we're born, about three-quarters of our bodies are composed of water, dropping to an average of 55-60% for the average adult. The lungs are over 80% water, the kidneys and spleen about 80%, and the heart and brain are approximately three-quarters composed of water—about the same moisture as a banana.

See how each of the more than 2 million known species relates to each other—and to common ancestors—in this zoomable tree of life.

As of 2025, perfect synthetic replication of natural organs remains elusive

Advancements such as 3D printing muscles, performing vaginal reconstruction with colon tissue, and growing organs in a lab have shown promise, but artificial options and transplanting substitutions continue to exhibit functional and performance limitations compared to their natural equivalents.