Medical Technology
Anatomy & Physiology
Cardiovascular System
Within athletic training, kinesiology, and nursing also see the section for blood. Within medical technology, also see the section for hematology. Within osteopathic medicine, also see the section for hematology within the molecular fundamentals of medicine section.
Anatomy of the Heart
Construct a heart circulation model and assemble a human heart.
Cardiovascular Physiology Tutorial
Answer questions on cardiac physiology and see how chemical solutions affect heart function.
Cardiovascular System Topics
Includes three animated series on the cardiac action potential, the cardiac cycle, and blood pressure regulation. Note from Dr. Fitzovich on the cardiac action potential tutorial: “Be careful about control of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium release in cardiac cells because it is mediated by calcium influx, not depolarization of the SR. Also note that a ‘funny current’ due to a special sodium channel is responsible for the pacemaker function.”
HeartScape
Includes a review of and quizzes on cardiac anatomy and physiology. Covers the mechanical and electrical structures of the heart. For additonal quizzes, please click here.
Learn Your Arteries
Click on images to learn the names of the various arteries in the body.
Map of the Human Heart
Provides an anatomical diagram of the heart and has a moving image of how blood moves through the heart.
Shockwave animations
Includes animations of heart circulation, an EKG, a graph of pressure readings and ventricular volume, and a graph of heart sounds. Also includes brief tutorials on atrial systole, isovolumetric contraction, rapid ejection, reduced ejection, isovolumetric relaxation, rapid ventricular filling, and diastasis.
Cats
Anatomically Correct: The Online Cat Dissection
View cat dissection videos and take quizzes on anatomy and physiology of the digestive, urogenital, and respiratory organs.
Cat Dissection Videos
View videos on skinning the cat, the muscular system, the circulatory system, the urogenital system, the nervous system, and the digestive and respiratory systems.
Muscular System
Quiz yourself on cat muscles.
Virtual Cat Dissection
This Pennsylvania State University website includes labeled images of the circulatory, digestive, muscular, nervous, respiratory, skeletal, and urogenital systems.
Zoology 225 Video Dissection Guide
This University of Alberta website contains videos of cat dissection. Quicktime is required to view the videos and may be freely downloaded from the site.
Cells
Cell Motility, Myosin, and Extravasation
The eight-minute-long video entitled “Inner Life” shows cell motility. Page also includes a link to a detailed animated tutorial on myosin that focuses on myosin 2 and myosin 5 and a link to an animated tutorial on rolling neutrophils, integrin activation, transendothelial migration, and extravasation in leukocytes (neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes).
CELLS alive!
Interactive exercises allow you to examine cell structures, see the stages of mitosis, and learn about the immune system, the cell cycle, cell structure and function, and microbes.
Cellular transport animations
Following an overview, this website provides annotated animations on membranes, diffusion/osmosis, passive transport, and active transport.
DNA replication animation
This detailed animation includes audio and subtitles.
DNA workshop activity
In this activity, you must match bases to make two new DNA strands, match DNA and RNA bases to make a mRNA strand, and match tRNA anticodons to mRNA codons. Requires Adobe Shockwave to run properly.
Protein synthesis animation
Provides detailed, annotated animations on protein synthesis.
Digestive System
Abdominal Organs
Place the abdominal organs in their correct locations.
Dissection Images & Videos
Ithaca College Gross Anatomy Joints – labeled dissection images for joints
Laboratory Dissections Practice Practical
Choose an area of the body on the right to see quizzes for cadaveric images of the head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis and perineum, back, osteology, upper extremity, and lower extremity. Click on “table of contents” at the top of the screen, choose a section, and then click on “laboratory dissection procedure” to see cadaveric images in which you can click on items for them to be pointed out in the image.
LUMEN Dissector – videos
Medical Gross Anatomy Learning Resources – videos (click on “More Features” and then “Dissection videos”)
Embryo
Development of Human Embyrology
See the section for newer animations based on the Carnegie Collection.
Embyrology Images Online
This companion website for books by William J. Larsen includes animations, updates, self-tests, and glossaries. Chapters cover the first week, second week, third week, fourth week, peripheral nervous system, embryonic folding and lungs, heart, vasculature, gastrointestinal tract, urogenital system, limbs, head and neck, central nervous system, integument, and fetal development. Not every chapter includes animations or updates.
Human Embryology Animations
This Indiana University Web site includes numerous developmental animations by system and body area.
Human Embyrology Chapters
This UNC School of Medicine website includes images, some animated, for body form, the musculoskeletal system, head & neck, ear, eye, nervous system, cardiovascular system, urogenital system, and the digestive & respiratory systems.
Multi-dimensional Human Embryo Atlas
Includes MRI and optical images of the embryo in Carnegie stages 13-23.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Embryology – Human Embryology Movies
Includes numerous animations of development for weeks 1-4 and some regions/systems. Includes sectional images here. Podcasts are available here.
The Visible Embryo
“The Visible Embryo is a visual guide through fetal development from fertilization through pregnancy to birth.” Click on the fetus to learn about fetal development; clicking on the curved line leads one to information on maternal symptoms.
Eyes
Association of Technical Opticians
There are numerous helpful pages within the “Categories” section, which is on the middle of the right side of the page. Click on “visual field” to see simulations of visual field defects. For other helpful simulations and materials, see also “simulators,” “surgery,” “pupil reflex,” “diagnostic tests,” and “anatomy.” For a simulation of vision as seen through various eye related conditions, click on “software,” and click on “previous entries” until you see the entry for “simulator software;” the simulation is a zip file that can be downloaded.
Eye Simulation Application
See what happens when to eye movement and pupil dilation when nerves and muscles are not working.
General A&P Resources
Anatomy and Physiology I Animations: Movies and Interactive Tutorial Links
Includes links for basic neurons/synapses, the endocrine system, the muscular system, cell transport, DNA replication, and more.
AnatQuest
One section provides “cut-away views of the front, side and top of the entire male body.” The other section labels anatomic objects in the male chest area.
BBC – Human Body and Mind
Play drag-and-drop games to test your abilities to correctly place items in the muscular and skeletal system. Quiz yourself on nervous system connections and the senses. Learn interesting facts about physiology.
Get Body Smart
Includes exceptional interactive tutorials on the human skeletal system, muscular system, muscle tissue physiology, nervous system, circulatory system, respiratory system, urinary system, and histology. One may turn labels off to quiz oneself on anatomy.
Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body
Includes the full-text of this landmark publication along with over 1,000 images and a subject index with 13,000 entries.
HHMI’s BioInteractive
Includes animations on hearing, heart circulation, and invasions of bacteria and viruses. Includes modules on obesity, cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular, DNA, RNA, biological clocks, infectious diseases, immunology, and genomics and chemical genetics.
Medical Gross Anatomy Learning Resources
This University of Michigan Web site includes dissection videos, objectives (see list of sessions), clinical cases, anatomy tables that provide descriptions and significance for body parts, learning games (crossword puzzles, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Anatomy Jeopardy); tutorials, some of which include quizzes (see learning modules); practice quizzes, labeled models that can be rotated (see QuickTime VR Movies), radiology images, surface anatomy (good for the anatomy fashion show), and surgical videos.
Primal Anatomy
Includes interactive modules with text for the head and neck, axilla, spine, thorax & abdomen, knee, hip, hand, pelvis & perineum, and foot. Also includes a study guide and test bank. Also includes essential regional anatomy, acupuncture anatomy, and pilates anatomy. Also includes surgery videos and animations for the axilla, knee, knee arthroplasty, hip arthroplasty, and podiatric medicine.
The Anatomy Lesson
Includes numerous practice examinations and examination keys. Also includes numerous modules with radiological images and cross-section drawings.
The Internet Pathology Laboratory for Medical Education
Includes over 1900 images as well as tutorials, laboratory exercises, and examination items. Along with pathologic images, it also includes images of normal anatomy and neuroanatomy from The Visible Human Project. Also includes electron microscopy histology images, tutorials for histotechniques and special stains; and procedure manuals for routine stains, special stains, and laboratory safety.
Visible Human cross sections
Includes CT, MRI, and labeled and unlabeled cross-sectional images.
Heredity
Sex-linked inheritance problem set
Click on the Tutorial button for explanations on how to solve the problems.
Immune System
Host Defense
Includes drag-and-drop quizzes on the components of the specific and nonspecific host defense system.
Muscular System
Also see the muscular system section of the Get Body Smart website for origins, actions, attachments, innervations, and animations of movements.
Facial Muscle Action Illustrated
In the drawing, click on a muscle to see videos of its action(s) and read information about it.
Get Body Smart Muscle Tissue Physiology
Tutorials cover the location and organization of muscle fibers, nerve supply to muscle fibers, and contraction of muscle fibers. Quizzes cover general characteristics of muscle fibers and internal organization of muscle fibers.
Learn Your Muscles
For each muscle, it provides an image that highlights the muscle and provides information on origin, attachments, action, and innervation. Muscles are listed in alphabetical order or by region.
Muscle Atlas – Upper Extremities and Lower Extremities
Upper extremities: http://www.rad.washington.edu/atlas/
Lower extremities: http://www.rad.washington.edu/atlas2/
Depicts each muscle and gives information on origin, attachments, action, and innervation. Muscles are listed in alphabetical order.
Muscle contraction animations:
Purdue North Central
San Diego State University College of Sciences
Wiley.com
Wisc-Online – Online Learning Object Repository – hit the next button to see the animations
Superficial Muscles Tutorial
This interactive website helps one learn the names and locations of major superficial muscles.
Superficial Muscles Tutorial
This interactive website helps one learn the names and locations of major superficial muscles.
Nervous System
3-D Brain Anatomy
Learn the locations and functions of major brain sections on this 3-D model that you can rotate and zoom within. You can also explore the brain by area or function.
Animations
Includes animations on the chemical synapse; membrane-bound receptors, g proteins, and Ca2+ channels; voltage gated channels and the action potential; sodium-potassium exchange; function of the neuromuscular junction; and action potential propagation in an unmyelinated axon.
Cranial Nerves – Introduction
Provides an anatomical diagram of the cranial nerves, lists their functions, and allows you to take quizzes on the information. Also has a quiz on cranial nerve trivia.
Cranial Parasympathetics
Click on a nucleus to see the pathway.
Learn Your Cutaneous Innervation
Has anterior and posterior views for the upper and lower extremities showing areas innervated by particular nerves.
Learn Your Nerves
Click on drawings to learn the names, spinal cord segment(s), and muscular innervation(s) of individual nerves for the cranial nerves, cervical plexus, brachial plexus, and lumbosacral plexus.
Pathway Quizzes in Neuroanatomy
Includes eighteen quizzes for pathways in the anterolateral system, dorsal column, visual system, and more.
Synaptic Transmission
Includes an animation of a synaptic transmission at a neuromuscular junction. Also includes a three-question quiz.
The 12 Cranial Nerves
This interactive tutorial includes animations to show what the cranial nerves control.
The Brain: Anatomy and Function
Learn about the functions and deficits associated with brain structures and test yourself on brain functions.
The Plastinated Brain
View frontal, transversal, and sagittal slices. Also includes surface anatomy, vascular anatomy, and MR tomography.
The Whole Brain Atlas
View normal and abnormal CT, MRI, and PET images.
Radiologic Anatomy
HEAL Normal and Abnormal Chest X-Rays
Includes an overview of normal radiographic anatomy of the chest and 10 cases of common abnormalities.
LUMEN Cross-Sectional Tutorial
Includes MRI, CT, and images for cross-sections of the following regions: head and neck, upper limb, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and lower limb. Includes male and female thorax and pelvis cross-sections. Note from Shannon King: in cross section # 8 in the lower limb section, the answer to #1 should be tibialis anterior instead of extensor digitorum.
LUMEN Radiological Anatomy
Includes plain film, CT, and MRI images. Click on the image for anatomical labels.
Module One: Chest Radiology
This Harvard Web site includes an introduction, review of normal anatomy, 11 cases, and a normal CT.
Radiographic Anatomy of the Skeleton
View labeled and unlabeled images. Click on a structure to learn its name.
The Plastinated Brain
View frontal, transversal, and sagittal slices. Also includes surface anatomy, vascular anatomy, and MR tomography.
The Whole Brain Atlas
View normal and abnormal CT, MRI, and PET images.
Visible Human cross sections
Includes CT, MRI, and labeled and unlabeled cross-sectional images.
Skeletal System
Skeletal System
Provides detailed quizzes on labeling bones and landmarks. Write down your answers and compare them to the correct answers.
Spine: Normal Anatomy
Click on “Spine: Normal Anatomy” to see moving images of the spine and learn about its anatomy and physiology.
The Bone Box
Provides quizzes on the names of bones and landmarks.
The eSkeletons Project
Choose Human under the heading, “Select A Taxon.” By choosing a bone from a pull-down menu and then clicking “Launch Bone Viewer,” one can see dorsal, ventral, medial, lateral, proximal, and distal views of the bone. One can also see its morphology, origins, attachments, and articulations.
The Skull Practical Exam
Take quizzes on the skull parts and landmarks.
Tissues
Animal Tissues
Includes images and information on epithelial, muscle, connective, nerve, and blood tissues.
Upper Extremities
Hand Kinesiology
Provides diagrams and information on the hand’s bone and joint structure, ligament structure, muscle arrangement, and nerve distribution.
Inside the Shoulder Joint
Illustrates and describes anatomical components of the shoulder joint.
Learn the Brachial Plexus in Five Minutes or Less
Shows how to draw a diagram of the brachial plexus.
Urinary System
Interactive Kidney Illustration
Includes simplistic illustrations and descriptions of anatomical components of the kidney.
Nephron Function
Click on the circles beside proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule & collecting duct, and overview. Register for free with MedEd Portal to view this and other resources.
Physiology of the Kidney
This University of Kansas School of Medicine Web site includes detailed objectives, numerous figures, and quizzes.
Free Resources
ADA Technical Assistance CD-ROM
Receive a free CD-ROM of ADA guidelines from the U.S. government.
ADVANCE for Medical Laboratory Professionals
Hematologists, phlebotomists, and medical laboratory technicians are eligible to receive this free print subscription. To get to the online subscription form from the home page listed above, click on the link for “Subscribe” in the middle portion of the left side of the page. You can also call 1-800-355-1088 to get the free print subscription. A free email newsletter comes with every free print subscription.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Science-related DVDs, videotapes, CD-ROMs, and publications are available to scientists, educators, and librarians.
General Medical Resources
Current Events and News
General Information
Also see the government resources.
Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine
Includes downloadable PowerPoint presentations, evidence-based medicine tools, downloadable research articles, and information on courses and events.
eMedicine
Free registration allows one to view over 6,500 frequently-updated articles written on a wide variety of topics by over 10,000 contributors.
Familydoctor.org
The American Academy of Family Physicians provides a medical dictionary, a drug guide, and information on health concerns and self-care.
MayoClinic.com
Provides information on conditions, diseases, health conditions, and prescription drugs. Provides healthy lifestyle planners for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, managing stress, and quitting smoking.
NOAH: New York Online Access to Health
Primarily provides information on anatomy, conditions, diseases, and mental health topics.
YourHealthInformation.com
In addition to current news on conditions and diseases, this website provides a drug resource center, a source for investigating symptoms, and explanations for medical tests and procedures.
Government Resources
Statistics
CDC: Data and Statistics
This clearinghouse includes interactive tools, publications, vital statistics, statistics by topic, and an annual report on trends in health statistics.
HIT: Health Information Tennessee
Includes reports, tables, vital statistics, health facilities data, and county profiles.
National Center for Health Statistics
This statistical arm of the CDC provides vital statistics and statistics on disease classification, healthy people, minority health, injuries, and aging. Additional data is culled from data collection systems which include the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the National Health Care Survey (NHCS) , the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), and the State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey (SLAITS).
Hematology
Blood
This excerpt from John W. Kimball’s online biology textbook covers the blood’s function, cells, and cell fragments.
Blood Typing Game
“In this game you have to blood type each patient and give them a blood transfusion. Are you able to do that? If not, maybe you should read the introduction to blood typing before you start; otherwise you will put the patients’ lives in danger!”
Bloodline Image Atlas
“This fully searchable directory features more than 800 hematological slides depicting various blood disorders and malignancies.” One can use a categorical index or keyword search to access the images.
Get Body Smart’s Blood and Blood Cell Quizzes
Includes visual quizzes for hematocrit, total RBC count, blood typing, WBC differential count, and clotting (coagulation) time.
Hemosurf – Demo
View normal and abnormal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
Medical Terminology
MedlinePlus Medical Dictionary
This dictionary results from a partnership between the U.S. National Library of Medicine and Merriam-Webster.
mondofacto Online Medical Dictionary
Contains over 140,000 definitions with internal links for further clarification of definitions.
Web Anatomy: Self Tests for Medical Terminology
Includes three quizzes on prefixes, suffixes, and roots. Most terms cover the cardiovascular system.
Microbiology
Malaria: Cooperation among Parasite, Vector, and Host
Describes and animates the life cycle of the malaria parasite.
Microbiology Resources on the Internet, All the Virology on the WWW – Video Library
Includes actual videos of macrophage phagocytosis, how bacteria swim, how bacteria divide and grow, and HIV replication.
Microbiology: Principles and Explorations
Includes animations, chapter overviews, and practice quizzes. The table of contents is listed here.
Phagocytosis and Bacterial Pathogens: Flash Animations
Includes animations of normal phagocytosis by a macrophage, a macrophage being infected by yersinia pestis, and a macrophage being infected by mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Photomicrographs
Includes photomicrographs of algae, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi.
Science Animations
Includes links for animations on the e. coli infection mechanism, viral infection, herpes infection, and more.
Scientific Stock Photography
Includes “over 1,500 light microscopy images and electron microscopy images (colorized and black & white)” of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, and other organisms.
The Grapes of Staph Home Page
The detailed lecture guides include photomicrographs and animations.
Urinalysis and Body Fluid Analysis
The Microscopic Examination of Urine
Provides images and explanations on using the microscope, staining methods, and urinary sediments.
Urinalysis
Explains urine dipstick chemical analysis, microscopic urinalysis, and methods of urine collection. Links to illustrations of urine with red blood cells, white blood cells, epithelial cells, casts, and crystals.
Urinalysis: A Comprehensive Review
This article from American Family Physician includes numerous tables that list pathological conditions associated with abnormal findings. Includes illustrations of epithelial cells, renal tubule cells, casts, and crystals.