30+ Free Online Human Anatomy Galleries

As a nurse, it helps to know the human body. Understanding how different systems work and interact with each other, can help you better treat your patients. The human body is interesting, and learning about our anatomy offers insight into the complex functions that let us perform what we deem to be simple tasks, like eating, breathing, and walking.

Technology allows the average person to look at images that you would have previously only been able to see in a medical profession. This public information provides healthcare workers and others a chance to see how our bodies work. To see some interesting (albeit sometimes gross) images, you can browse these online human anatomy galleries.

General and Developmental Anatomy

These sites offer helpful information regarding the entire body. They illustrate how the different systems work independently and together, includes information on the way the body develops.

Anatomy Image Gallery: Provides access to a vast amount of images related to human anatomy. There are interesting CGI images that can give you a unique perspective of the human body. AnatomyCorner: This site features different images and galleries related to human anatomy, as well as other animals. Through the variety of pictures, you are able to compare humans’ body structure to that of other creatures. Anatomy: This gallery from eMedicineHealth, offers a look at different parts of the body, from ears to fingers. They have detailed computer diagrams and illustrations of the body accompanied by descriptions. Anatomy Atlas Gallery: A searchable gallery format provides you with access to helpful images of human anatomy. Human Anatomy: Includes developmental anatomy of a fetus, giving you a look at how humans are formed in the womb. Virtual Organ Library: This site has access to several different collections of images of the human body from various perspectives. MedMotion: A simple gallery that includes images from different systems of the body.

Brain and Nervous System

By going through these sites, you can learn about the brain and nervous system.

Brain Anatomy Images: Posit Science has a variety of illustrations, each one highlighting a part of the brain complete with a description. Anatomy of the Central Nervous System: An article with labeled images of the brain. Nervous System: This interactive guide allows you to highlight detailed portions of the nervous system. Human Anatomy – Nervous System: This quaint BBC page offers a general look at the nervous system and its basic functions, and you can click on the labels to get a more detailed description. Photo Gallery: Brain: National Geographic has several extremely detailed, graphic images of the brain. Brain Specimens: Click on different links to see images of different brain specimens, neurons and more.

Respiratory System

Find out how the lungs and airways work through the images and illustrations from these galleries.

Circulatory/Cardiovascular System

The heart is an amazing muscle, and you can learn about how it pumps blood and oxygen through our veins and the rest of the body.

Cardiovascular System: This site provides intricate computer images of every aspect of the cardiovascular and circulatory system. Each time you click on a body part, it will zoom in and allow you to see the image in greater detail. Circulatory System: This basic, kid-friendly gallery includes images, quizzes and videos about the circulatory system. Cardiovascular System: This is a gallery of magnified cardiovascular images taken during surgery. Each picture has a description using medical jargon. Schema of Circulation: Here you can get an idea of how blood moves through the body with these detailed, labeled diagrams of the heart and circulatory system.

Digestive System

Our digestive system allows us to receive nutrients so that we may function properly on a daily basis. Here you can see how the digestive system works to help the body get what it needs for sustenance. The digestive system includes the areas used to eliminate toxins from the body.

Photo Gallery: Digestive System: National Geographic has several graphic and highly magnified pictures of actual parts of the digestive system as well as a few that are CGI. . Digestive System: This visual dictionary has a collection of diagrams that label the major areas of each part of the digestive system. Digestive System 3D Images: This site allows you to purchase 3-D CGI images of both healthy and diseased sections of the digestive system.. Picture Your Digestive System: This article includes labeled images that breakdown the pancrease, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, large intestine, and upper digestive system.

Musculoskeletal System

Our muscles and bones are responsible for the way we move, support our weight, and protect our vital organs. These links provide a variety of visual perspectives so that you may learn more about the human anatomy.

Musculoskeletal Atlas: There are several images on this site that use the proper medical names to label the bones and the other components that interact with them. Musculoskeletal Anatomy: Here you will find x-ray and MRI images of the upper and lower extremities. With the free images, you are able to see each these body parts labeled with their proper medical names. Muscular System: This detailed, interactive gallery shows the front view of both the male and female muscular system. The 2-D view lets you click on each part to zoom in and read a description of each muscle group, whereas the 3-d view allows you to zoom in and hear how the medical names for the muscles are pronounced. Functional Anatomy of Skeletal Muscles: Get Body Smart provides an interactive platform with detailed labels and description of the muscles and how they work. They have included printouts and quizzes as well. Skeletal System: This website may have a simple layout, but the pictures are amazing. Click on each link on this page to see an actual photograph of the human skeleton, and beneath each picture you can click to learn the names of the bones.

Diseases, Injuries and Defects

Find out what happens when your body is not able to function properly. The following online galleries illustrate the effects of disease, injury and defect on the human anatomy and may be extremely graphic.

Trauma Gallery: Real, extremely graphic images of trauma injuries. Warning: images are gruesome and not for the faint of heart. They are useful in order to prepare yourself for when may see these injuries in person. Strep Throat: EMedicine Health has articles and images of this disease as well as links to other diseases. Medical Gallery: Real, graphic pictures of injuries, illnesses and defects from the University of Iowa. Warning: some these pictures are graphic, and others involve STDS and may not be considered appropriate to view in public. Photos of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: The CDC has a multitude of pictures of diseases. Warning: some of the photographs are quite graphic.