Interactive Body

Most of us went through the laborious process of studying the human body, during school, with all its major and minor components. However, we end up only comprehending the basic information. The notions are complex and hard to understand, the dictionaries don't help too much, and a full-sized body is too expensive to acquire.

There are plenty of programs on the Internet that provide simpler or more sophisticated tools, to explain the human body, with interactive activities and explanations. Interactive Body is a simple yet practical utility that comes bundled with an extensive database of definitions and 3D visual images, letting you study each element in detail.

The download and installation might take some time, depending on your network speed. In order for the app to run, XNA Framework Redistributable and XNA Game Studio Shared Components are required. It's recommended first to install the two tools, and then the main program, to avoid eventual errors. Plus, it's advisable to be launched in administrator mode.

The interface is self-explanatory and easy to navigate, opening each option into a separate window. The primary panel displays three individual parts, muscles, bones and internal system. Based on the selected choice, the gallery shows all contained elements.  Sadly, there is no return button, to go back to the previous pane, nor and an option to export the text or save the images, to further be used in projects.

Clicking on an item brings up a new window with detailed information about terminology, fractures, etymology, and other species similarities. For example, the bone category comes with a general overview, followed by cervical, cranium, pelvis and other components. The circulatory system lets you read about the vein, artery, and heart, with explanations about anatomy, function, various veins, and possible diseases.

Taking everything into account, Interactive Body is a useful and practical application that comes in handy for anyone who wants to study the human body (muscles, bones and internal system) in a 3D preview. During our testing, we encountered some minor errors that can be temporarily resolved using the "Escape" button.