We continuously strive towards "medical accuracy", acknowledging three common concerns of medical professionals.

1. Ethical claims
Sadly, the term "medically accurate anatomy models" has been diluted by numerous illegitimate claims online, by people who often don't appreciate the nuances of the concept, and who see it as merely a marketing catch phrase.

2. One size doesn't fit all
The immense diversity of anatomical features as a result of evolutionary adaptations among the billions of individuals who make up the human race makes the claim of a single "anatomically correct" model that is a definitive blueprint to all dubious at best.

3. Software limitations
The nature of representing complex anatomy is extremely limited by the spatial restrictions present in the medium of 3D. Examples of this are the way certain tissues gradually morph from hard tissue to soft tissue, the way certain features naturally "intersect" one another, and the shear level of detail that is present at microscopic levels, such as the bronchiole of the lungs and the villi in the small intestine.

In light of this, we take steps to achieve accuracy, within the limitations of the subject matter and 3D medium.

How we overcome these challenges

1. 3D Scanning of real life human specimens.

2. Cadaver dissection sessions attended in person by our specialist 3D artists.

3. A thorough and measured review process overseen by professional anatomical experts.

4. Ethics committee approval when human data (such as MRI scans) is used as reference material.

5. Cross-checking structures against respected medical literature.

Yes, we've really put a great deal of effort into building detail which is important to depict complex anatomical structures, but often overlooked by other artists.

Here are a few highlights:

1. Disarticulated (Beauchêne) Skull. Our skull model includes all relevant structures, including sinus cavities, sulci for meningeal arteries and so on.

2. Complex Heart, including Trabeculae carneae, and Pectinate muscles

3. Fascia compartments for Upper and Lower Limbs, Lesser Omentum and Greater Omentum, Urogenital Peritoneum, Parietal Peritoneum, Precaecocolic Fascia

4.Alimentary System. Muscles of Tongue, Stomach mucosa gastric folds, Omental appendices, Small Intestine mucosa, Large Intestine mucosa, Rectum Mucosa with Anal columns, sinuses and valves

5. Urinary System: Mucosa with Trigone of bladder

All of them.

Just kidding, but it's a growing list - certainly more than any other model.

We’ve adopted the TERMINOLOGIA ANATOMICA standards as a guide for which anatomical features should be included, confirmed by anatomical experts who understand which elements are of particular importance at a tertiary training level.

Where ever possible we've separated 3D geometry so that it is correctly named and logically laid out. For features that are not conducive to having their own dedicated geometry, we've textured them in, or included them in our checklist which can be supplied on request.

You can also read more about it here.

We appreciate that for an asset of this caliber to have integrity, due process must be followed from start to finish. Since day one we partnered with the University of Cape Town, who has provided us with a framework of academic processes and procedures to ensure relevance to the medical community. Initially lead by Dr Charles Slater (since retired), and more recently by the university's anatomical training experts, more recently Claire Lewis and Dr Steven Randall