Visible Body has recently released an iPad version of its 3D interactive model of the human body. We have had the chance to try it out for a few weeks and will tell you all the ins and outs in this review.
The Visible Body is available for the iPad 2 for 30 dollars or 24 euros (it needs the processing power of the iPad 2 to render the 3D models). It is a human anatomy learning and teaching app, featuring anatomical models with over 2,500 structures. Download size is 111Mb, so a WiFi connection is recommended to download the app. After starting Visible Body, you are presented with a screen that allows a choice of watching a tutorial or start using the app. A bit of an annoyance is that the app only starts loading the 3D models after choosing the start option and then takes up to 20 seconds for loading. 
After the wait, you are presented with a screen that allows you to choose between hundreds of different views organized regionally and by anatomical system. The graphics are nothing short of breath-taking, and the 3D rendering is really pushing the graphical capabilities of the iPad. That probably explains the initial slow load time of the app. All views use the same whole body 3D model, but the app will center on the chosen anatomical part or region, and hide or fade irrelevant other parts. Loading of a view is very swift and rotating and zooming happens naturally using the standard iPad gestures. Tapping on anatomical structures gives their name and shows the anatomical hierarchy to which they belong. Definitions are also included for the anatomical structures which can provide additional details. A search function is also included.
Initially we were going to complain here that only the female model is available in the app, but then just as we were finishing the review, an update came in that added the male model. Switching between the male and female can be done from the home screen, actions menu, reproductive tab, or urinary tab. The update also brought a faster loading time (although waiting is still longer than we would like, well over 10 seconds). Special introductory price was $50 for the first 2 weeks, but then instead of (as expected) raising the price, it was dropped to $30. Compared to the website version this is a real steal, since a regular subscription costs a hefty $120 for an annual subscription.
All-in-all this is one of the best anatomy applications available for any platform, and is definitely recommended for those learning basic anatomy. Structures that follow complicated paths that do not lay in one plane, such as blood vessels and nerves, are much easier appreciated with the 3D interface than in flat drawings in regular textbooks. The high-resolution graphics and smooth zooming, panning and rotating capabilities make this app a real eye-catcher on your iPad. Those with a fairly good understanding of anatomy might find the number of labels a bit limited, as subparts of anatomy such as bones are not labeled. For clinical practice an app like Imaios, which has more detailed anatomy labels and is based on MRI and CT scan data, might be more suitable. But even then, the stunning graphics make this app a purchase that is hard to resist and it will impress both your colleagues and patients. Our few wishes for this app are fixes for the occasional crashes we experienced, shorter loading times, more detailed anatomy of specific body parts such as the eye and ear, and more detailed anatomic labeling, and we are confident more updates will follow.
Homepage: Visible Body…
iTunes link: Visible Body 3D Human Anatomy Atlas for iPad 2…
Flashback: Argosy Visible Body Out in Beta…