Human Body Maps, from Healthline

Human Body Maps, from Healthline.

Healthline's Human Body Maps, created in partnership with GE Healthymagination, is a free, interactive anatomy program that provides access to high-quality medical images. It allows learners to virtually explore the human body by selecting a body segment from a list or detailed index of body regions/systems or by clicking on an image. The site includes mouse-over pop-up boxes to identify body parts and provide links to more information. What is more fascinating and useful is the ability to rotate an image and select the layer of interest: skin, superficial muscles, deep muscles, connective tissues, bones, nerves, vasculature, and lymphatics. The layering allows learners to better understand how different organs and tissues fit together in a particular area of the body. Each component (body segment, organ, muscle, etc.) includes a more detailed description. For example, the description for a muscle contains a description of the muscle, its origin, insertion, vasculature, innervation, and muscle action as well as information on common clinical concerns.Both male and female anatomies are featured. There is no histology or cytology. The site provides links to related Healthline consumer health articles that are reviewed by physicians and animations from Visible Productions. Response time for both the interactive and non-interactive parts of the site is good. Though the site's primary audience is health care consumers, Human Body Maps is excellent for undergraduate health science students. An iPad app is available for $8.99 (single gender) or $14.99 (both genders). Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates, two-year technical program students, and general readers. -- J. M. Miller, University of Toledo. Reviewed in February, 2013 issue of ACRL's CHOICE.