Atlases

For most people, an anatomy atlas is a large book with illustrations of the different regions and systems of the body. Each region is labeled with the names of the organs and other anatomic structures that compose it. A textual description often describes the structures, their interrelationship, and their function. Taken together, the collection of information that makes up an atlas paints a comprehensive view of the body and how it works. For our purposes, we generalize the definition of anatomy atlases to include any annotated collection of spatially organized medical information. This definition includes digital atlases as well as printed books. This broader view also covers specialized atlases such as those used in radiology, pathology, and microscopy.