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Skeletons: larger of two with bow and
arrow.

F. Platter, De corporis humani structura et usu...

Photomacrograph of the head of a black bee (unknown species). One of two compound eyes and mouthparts are visible as well as two antennae extending out from the top of the bee's head. The bee's stinger (orange) is also visible. Bees are important pollinators and play a crucial role in maintaining our environment, promoting the growth of crops and flowers many of which directly impact on our own health and wellbeing. Width of image is 5 mm.

Black bee (unknown species)

Sculpture of the brain made from layering donated human hair into a mould of a model brain. This hair is from a female donor and retains its natural grey colouring.

"Hair brained" is an English idiomatic phrase used as a derogatory term to explain someone's possibly irrational thought.



The brain measures approximately 18 cm (W) by 17 cm (H) by 18 cm (D).

Hair brain sculpture

Page 37, fig. 21. From John Quekett, A practical treatise on the use of the microscope, including the different methods of preparing and examining animal, vegetable, and mineral structures. London, 1848.

Illustration of Lister's microscope.

This is the third building of Bethlem Hospital, built 1811-15 when the Hospital removed from Moorfields to St George's Fields, Southwark. All now [1996] demolished but the central portion, which houses the Imperial War Museum

1 print : engraving ; image and border 40.6 x 57.7 cm

The Hospital of Bethlem [Bedlam], St. George's Fields, Lambeth: the entrance facade (above), and plans (below), with separate keys to male and female sides, and a scale of feet. Engraving by Roffe after P. Hardwick.

Scanning electron micrograph of human proximal
tubule, showing tubular structure.

Human proximal tubule, tubular structure,SEM

Sculpture of the brain made from layering donated human hair into a mould of a model brain. This hair is from a female donor and retains its natural brown auburn colouring.

"Hair brained" is an English idiomatic phrase used as a derogatory term to explain someone's possibly irrational thought.



The brain measures approximately 18 cm (W) by 17 cm (H) by 18 cm (D).

The compound microscope was essential to the development of haematology as a discipline. Under the microscope the structure of the blood and marrow were revealed.

This microscope was made by Robert B Tolles (1822-53) of the Boston Op-tical Works whose name is engraved on to the body tube. Tolles formed the Boston Optical Works with Charles Stodder in 1867; the partnership dissolved in 1871. This microscope was sold by Charles Stodder to English lawyer and microscopist Sir Frank Crisp (1843-1919), who collected microscopes and used them in his research.

maker: Tolles, Robert B., maker: Boston Optical Works

Place made: Boston, Suffolk county, Massachusetts, United States

Compound microscope, Boston, United States, 1870-1880

Molecular model of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin. This is a ribonuclease found in the eosinophil granules that acts to degrade RNA. It is known to have antiviral activity but is also implicated in hypereosinophilic syndromes, asthma and allergy.

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin

Human ribcage 3D printed in white SLS nylon. In this image, the ribcage is viewed from the front with the vertebrae of the spine clearly visible in the centre. The ribcage belongs to Caroline who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma cancer. The 2D data contained in her CT scans were converted into 3D renders by the artist who was then able to export them to a printable format. Original size of artwork is 14h x 13w x 9d cm.

Wellcome Trust photography by Ben Gilbert.

Ribcage, Hodgkin lymphoma patient, 3D printed nylon

All animals possess unique anatomic variations that help them adapt to their environment. The Grey Parrot Anatomy Project has been established in part to improve upon and create technology that allows the world to study anatomy of any animal. By understanding what is normal, we are better positioned to identify and ultimately treat the abnormal. Discoveries made through the project have already been used on a large variety of animals including humans. 



BriteVu®, a novel contrast agent developed out of the project allows researchers to see vasculature (with the aid of a CT scan) down to the capillary level. A grey parrot head is seen here with vessels highlighted using BriteVu®. One interesting finding has been the tortuous vessels at the base of the head. These vessels have slack to allow the bird to turn its head around without significantly altering blood flow.

Microvasculature of grey parrot head

This building was erected 1755-78, modified in 1835, and demolished in 1928 to be replaced by the present structure

1 print : wood engraving ; image 8.5 x 14.6 cm

The Middlesex Hospital: seen from the south. Wood engraving, 1837.

Blood vessels in a female human adult brain, from a patient with suspected bacterial meningitis. The 2D data contained in the patient's MRI scans were converted into 3D renders by the artist who was then able to export them to a printable format so that they could be 3D printed in white nylon by selective laser sintering (SLS). 



Meningitis is the infection of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meninges) and can be bacterial or viral. Bacterial meningitis can be very severe and if left untreated can cause brain damage and infection of the blood (septicaemia). It can be caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis.



Wellcome Trust photography by Ben Gilbert.

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Fluorescent micrograph showing human osteosarcoma cells grown in culture. Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer and occurs due to an error in the growth of osteoblast cells, the cells that are responsible for generating new bone tissue. 



In this image the contrast has been inverted and the microtubules are shown in black. Microtubules are an important component of the cell’s cytoskeleton, composed of a single type of protein, called tubulin, microtubules function to determine cell shape and are dynamic structures involved in a variety of cell movements.



This image was taken using wide field fluorescent microscopy and created by stitching 24 individual images together.

Human osteosarcoma cells

Transmission electron micrograph showing an
aberrant Bowman's layer at the site of a
peripheral corneal ulcer.The epithelium at the
right has lost its columnar, basal structure and
contains an inflammatory cell. The basement
membrane is absent but there is an aberrant,
reduplicated basal lamina-like material below the
epithelium. the underlying Bowman's layer shows
residual collagen but also lipid droplet
accumulation. Two inflammatory cells and a
macrophage containing lysosomes underly Bowman's.

Aberrant Bowman's layer

Differential interference contrast (DIC) micrograph of a longitudinal section of a cat tongue. This sample is from a vintage prepared slide from the period 1870 - 1905. A single rasping papilla (backward facing spine on a cat's tongue) typical of a carnivore can be seen, together with some of the underlying muscle structure.

Cat tongue, longitudinal section

Title of Image: 'Beneath the Surface'. 

Cortical bone mapping of hip from computed tomography (CT).


This image depicts a novel image analysis technique called 'cortical bone mapping'. This technique can measure the thickness of cortical bone (the dense outer shell-like layer) at many thousands of points around the hip from clinical CT scans, plotting the results as a colour wash on a 3D model here viewed from the front. The following colour scale corresponds with these approximate cortical bone measurements: red 0.0 mm; orange 1.2 mm; yellow 2.4 mm; green 3.6 mm; blue 4.5 mm; purple 5 mm+.



These measurements can be used to test whether individuals are at risk of a hip fracture if the bone is too thin, or if they might be developing osteoarthritis if too thick. Using a mesh in this case to display results rather than a more usual surface representation reveals the complex framework that is the basis for 3D sampling of the underlying CT imaging data.

Cortical bone mapping of hip from computed tomography (CT)

Fluorescent micrograph showing human osteosarcoma cells grown in culture. Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer and occurs due to an error in the growth of osteoblast cells, the cells that are responsible for generating new bone tissue. 



In this image the microtubules are stained in orange and the cell nuclei stained green. Microtubules are an important component of the cell’s cytoskeleton, composed of a single type of protein, called tubulin, microtubules function to determine cell shape and are dynamic structures involved in a variety of cell movements.

This image was taken using wide field fluorescent microscopy and created by stitching 24 individual images together.

Small structure with an elaborate door, to left hand side on a wooded hill in the shade of trees. Sunshine on rooftops in the distance. The same place as Thomson's negative number 541 [?]

Foochow, Fukien province, China. Photograph, 1981, from a negative by John Thomson, 1870/1871.

SEM of a strand of human hair. Variation can be seen in the structure and appearance of hairs in particular the cuticle, the outer most part of the hair, which is composed of overlapping, scale-like cells and can be a useful indicator as to its origin. Human hair scales have a random, non-repeating pattern, in contrast to those of animals, which are more regular in their arrangement. Scanning electron micrograph; x 750; hair is approximately 95 micrometers wide.

Human hair (Asian origin)

Bird's eye (superior) view of connections in the brain of a healthy 29 year old female human. The front of the brain is facing the right side of the image and the back of the brain is on the left. Brain cells communicate with each other through these nerve fibres, which have been visualised using diffusion imaging tractography. Diffusion weighted imaging is a specialised type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan which measures water diffusion in many directions in order to reconstruct the orientation of bundles of axons. Tractography is used to indirectly model these bundles of axons (nerve fibres), which transmit information between cortical regions at the brain's surface. Since these images are in 3D, colours have been used to represent the direction of the neural tracts. For example, connections that run from the motor cortex and somatosensory cortex down to the corticospinal tract in the brain stem are visible in blue/purple. The brain measures approximately 18 cm from front to back.

Healthy adult human brain viewed from above, tractography

Watercolour and ink on paper illustration of HIV assembly and budding. Once additional viral RNA and proteins have been made inside an infected target cell (usually CD4 T cells, a type of white blood cell found in the immune system), they are assembled and packaged together into new virus particles (virions) ready for release. HIV Gag protein and gag-pol (red) form an ordered arrangement below the cell membrane (white/grey) capturing the HIV genome (yellow). Viral proteins Vpr and Vif (purple; lower middle) are also incorporated. The assembled virus then pinches off from the cell picking up cell membrane on the way to create the viral envelope. Width of image is approximately 100 nm.



This image forms part of a series of illustrations which capture HIV at eight different points in the viral life cycle as it infects a cell and replicates.

HIV assembly and budding, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Molecular model of Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A1 (SpeA1) from <I>Streptococcus pyogenes</I>. This is a bacterial superantigen capable of causing toxic shock, or food poisoning if ingested.

Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A1

Complete skeleton of a Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer or Leptoptilos crumeniferus) standing on one leg. Marabou storks are large wading birds which scavenge for food, often dead and decaying animal flesh (carrion). They have large, oversized beaks adapted for this. The Marabou stalk is 90 cm from ground to shoulder.

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F. Platter, De corporis humani structura et usu...

Black bee (unknown species)

Hair brain sculpture

Illustration of Lister's microscope.

The Hospital of Bethlem [Bedlam], St. George's Fields, Lambeth: the entrance facade (above), and plans (below), with separate keys to male and female sides, and a scale of feet. Engraving by Roffe after P. Hardwick.

Human proximal tubule, tubular structure,SEM

Hair brain sculpture

Compound microscope, Boston, United States, 1870-1880

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin

Ribcage, Hodgkin lymphoma patient, 3D printed nylon

Microvasculature of grey parrot head

The Middlesex Hospital: seen from the south. Wood engraving, 1837.

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Human osteosarcoma cells

Aberrant Bowman's layer

Cat tongue, longitudinal section

Cortical bone mapping of hip from computed tomography (CT)

Human osteosarcoma cells

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Foochow, Fukien province, China. Photograph, 1981, from a negative by John Thomson, 1870/1871.

Human hair (Asian origin)

Healthy adult human brain viewed from above, tractography

HIV assembly and budding, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A1

Complete skeleton of a marabou stork

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Wellcome uses cookies.

Active filters:

F. Platter, De corporis humani structura et usu...

Black bee (unknown species)

Hair brain sculpture

Illustration of Lister's microscope.

The Hospital of Bethlem [Bedlam], St. George's Fields, Lambeth: the entrance facade (above), and plans (below), with separate keys to male and female sides, and a scale of feet. Engraving by Roffe after P. Hardwick.

Human proximal tubule, tubular structure,SEM

Hair brain sculpture

Compound microscope, Boston, United States, 1870-1880

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin

Ribcage, Hodgkin lymphoma patient, 3D printed nylon

Microvasculature of grey parrot head

The Middlesex Hospital: seen from the south. Wood engraving, 1837.

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Human osteosarcoma cells

Aberrant Bowman's layer

Cat tongue, longitudinal section

Cortical bone mapping of hip from computed tomography (CT)

Human osteosarcoma cells

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Foochow, Fukien province, China. Photograph, 1981, from a negative by John Thomson, 1870/1871.

Human hair (Asian origin)

Healthy adult human brain viewed from above, tractography

HIV assembly and budding, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A1

Complete skeleton of a marabou stork

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

Finding us:

Opening times:

Today's opening times

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