Anatomical Models

What are anatomical models?

Anatomical models are visual tools used to help you better understand anatomy, making learning clearer and more engaging.

They are available for the entire human body, or for individual section or parts of the body, like the skull, the ear, kidney, torso, hip joint, foot and ankle, teeth, heart, and more. They usually have removable parts, including removable and detailed interior sections, and movable joints, where applicable.

Accurately detailed anatomical features, including suture lines, full dentition, fissures, joints, and more, all look totally lifelike so you can truly study every detail of a part of the anatomy, along with labeled diagrams. This allows for greater and more realistic examination.

Usually made of a material like durable PVC, they can be used in different studies, depending on the specific model. There are anatomical models for animals as well.

Why and who would use an anatomical model?

Ideal for medical students, instructors, doctors, chiropractors, various types of specialists, and others who have an interest in learning about the human (or animal) body and systems and structures within it, anatomical models provide a multifaceted view of the various components, systems, and organs that make up the human body and keep all of our functions running.

Different configurations of anatomical models focus on different key systems or specific mechanisms within the body, providing a visual understanding to go along with spoken or written education. Full-body skeletons, about 5’5’’ tall and positioned on a roller base for easy maneuverability, usually have fully movable joints and flexible spines to serve as a true replica of the human skeleton.

Anatomical models can serve as a guide and teaching model for educators who are teaching medical and other related students, helping them better understand the mechanics of how the heart works or human movement, for example, or study specific ailments or functions of the body, like the nervous system or digestion. Physical education teachers could also use them to inform players about potential injuries, how they are caused, and how to avoid them.

What alternatives are there to traditional anatomical models?

In addition to anatomical models of the entire human skeleton or major organs and joints like the heart, shoulder join, and hip joint, you can also get anatomical models for things like the human scalp, made 50-times larger for examining all of its components, different cells in the body, like prokaryotic and blood, and more.

Alternatively, there are laminated plastic charts that showcase fully-labeled and highly detailed images of the human body, specific sections of the body, organs, or ailments, like the nervous system, spinal nerves, knee and other injuries, and arthritis, that can be used as a visual reference as well. They usually come with metal eyelets for hanging them up in an office, classroom, or bedroom.

For younger kids, there are things like animal X-ray sets that show real X-rays of different animals to study their internal workings.