Human Anatomy

The interaction between art and science can be traced back to cave paintings. Somebody, the "scientist", created the tools for art and the artist applied them. It works the other way round too, with artists creating illustrations to record and further the progress of science. The detailed illustrations for Gray's Anatomy, first published in London in 1858, are still in use today by students of human anatomy (CLICK). The Digital Design Studio of Glasgow School of Art has now taken the teaching of human anatomy into the computer age. Digital designers took three years to create a model of the head and neck which is claimed to be the most accurate in the world. 3D modelling allows medical students to "fly" into the human skull and through the intricacies of the brain. Bio-feedback also allows students to practise giving injections while "feeling" the insertion of the needle as though into a living patient. Dental students take note! The graphic shown here is a still from a BBC video exploring this new imaging software. It needs to be seen to be believed (CLICK).