works

Galleries and Reading Room

Wellcome Café

Library

Wellcome Kitchen

Wellcome Shop

To make your visit as safe and enjoyable as possible, you’ll need to follow our safety measures inside our venue, including wearing a face covering unless you’re exempt. Find out how we're keeping you safe. You no longer need to book a ticket to enter the museum or library.

We’re undertaking research with website visitors to find out some more about you and what you thought about your visit. This survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!

What brought you to our website today?

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

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).

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

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

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)

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

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.

Complete skeleton of a marabou stork

Sculpture of the brain made from layering donated human hair into a mould of a model brain. The donor of this hair is unknown as it was purchased from a cosmetic shop in London. Prior to purchase, the hair had been bleached to obtain the blonde colour seen here.

"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).

3D rendered studies of cadaver hind limbs of a euthanized 22 year-old male elephant from the Dallas Zoo, Texas, and sent to Texas A+M University College of Veterinary Medicine for CT (computed tomography) imaging. The models detail bone degeneration of the stifle (knee) and hock (ankle) joints, possibly due to osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease or arthrosis. 



563 CT images at 2 millimetres slice thickness were utilised for this series. These 2D images were converted into 3D representations using tissue segmentation based on tissue density, resulting in Stereolithography (.STL) 3D models of the skin and brain, cardiovascular system and skeletal system. The models were then textured and rendered to produce these images. 


The left model measures 102.45 cm height x 38.66 cm length x 21.03 cm width.

The right model measures 117.74 cm height x 45.95 cm length x 30.95 cm width.

3D reconstructed elephant hind limbs

Complete skeleton of a Harris' Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus). The Harris' hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey that breeds in the United States and South America. These raptors are unusual in that they hunt in packs or family groups. The Harris hawk wingspan (in articulated position) is 60 cm.

Complete skeleton of a Harris' hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

False-colour scanning electron micrograph of the head of a bumble bee (Bombus). Two compound eyes (for accurate perception of movement), two antennae and lots of hairs are 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 6 mm.

Head of a bumble bee (Bombus), SEM

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. In this image, the rat heart (top), iris (middle) and kidney (bottom) are perfused with BriteVu® revealing the microvasculature of each organ. By seeing the vasculature, researchers can study the effect of cancer, diabetes mellitus, infections, autoimmune disorders and much more on the blood vessels.

Microvasculature of rat heart, iris and kidney

Photomacrograph of a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) tooth. The great white shark is one of the most popularly known sharks, with a fearsome reputation for attacking humans. It is considered the world's largest predator but has a broad range of prey which includes other marine mammals, bony fish and rays. Large white sharks can also catch reptiles, birds and other large fish. Their upper teeth are large, triangular in shape and sharply serrated which enables them to prey on large creatures. Their lower teeth are narrower and used to hold prey. Width of image is 7.5 cm.

Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) tooth

Photograph showing the refinement of facial details of a human head modelled in clay. This is an early stage in the process of anatomically modelling a human head. The skull is viewed from the front (anterior view) but was created by the sculptor working from behind (posterior view) primarily by touch. With the cranium completed, the sculptor now continues to work from the front.



This image forms part of a series of work titled "Stranger than a Wolf" showing the gradual anatomical creation of a human head in clay. For the entire process (forming the cranial bone structure and placing the facial muscles, features and skin) see related images. As a reference, a male human skull was chosen from the Panum Collection, Copenhagen. Sculptor Ellie Scheepens was asked to reproduce it with attention to comparison and touch, and without viewing the front of the head and face (anterior view) at all. This unique method of forensic modelling was directed throughout the process by artist Heather Spears. Concept: artist, writer and educator Heather Spears. Sculpture: Ellie Scheepens. Photography: Orsolya Benkóczi and Isaac Carter.

Human head sculpted in clay, refinement of facial features

Illustration of raw onion as seen through a scanning electron microscope. Raw onion reveals an ordered underlying structure similar to cracks or fracture lines in rocks. Width of image is 1280 micrometres.

These drawings form part of a series of work "Raw to Processed" which considers food and its relationship to health, looking at patterns in the structure of food and how these change when food is processed.

Raw onion

Polarised light micrograph of a longitudinal section of the stomach of a neonatal dog. This sample is from a vintage prepared slide from the period 1870 - 1905. Blood vessels were injected with dye (carmine; red) before fixing and sectioning the tissue in order to visualise the capillaries in the tissue. This was a newly developed technique at that time. The capillary supply to the muscular folds or rugae of the stomach is visible. These gastric folds allow the stomach to expand when food enters it and also help move food through during digestion. Composite of 26 individual images. Horizontal width of image is 16 mm.

Stomach from a neonatal dog, longitudinal section

Photograph of dissected nerves of the brachial plexus, arteries and veins supplying the forelimb.

Wellcome uses cookies.

More filters

Active filters:

Black bee (unknown species)

Hair brain sculpture

Hair brain sculpture

Ribcage, Hodgkin lymphoma patient, 3D printed nylon

Microvasculature of grey parrot head

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Cat tongue, longitudinal section

Cortical bone mapping of hip from computed tomography (CT)

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Healthy adult human brain viewed from above, tractography

HIV assembly and budding, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Complete skeleton of a marabou stork

Hair brain sculpture

Hair brain sculpture

3D reconstructed elephant hind limbs

Complete skeleton of a Harris' hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

Head of a bumble bee (Bombus), SEM

Microvasculature of rat heart, iris and kidney

Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) tooth

Human head sculpted in clay, refinement of facial features

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Raw onion

3D reconstructed elephant hind limbs

Stomach from a neonatal dog, longitudinal section

Nerves and Vessels of the Brachial Plexus

Stay in the know

Wellcome collection

Finding us:

Opening times:

Today's opening times

Wellcome uses cookies.

Search the collections

More filters

Active filters:

Black bee (unknown species)

Hair brain sculpture

Hair brain sculpture

Ribcage, Hodgkin lymphoma patient, 3D printed nylon

Microvasculature of grey parrot head

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Cat tongue, longitudinal section

Cortical bone mapping of hip from computed tomography (CT)

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Healthy adult human brain viewed from above, tractography

HIV assembly and budding, HIV viral life cycle, illustration

Complete skeleton of a marabou stork

Hair brain sculpture

Hair brain sculpture

3D reconstructed elephant hind limbs

Complete skeleton of a Harris' hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

Head of a bumble bee (Bombus), SEM

Microvasculature of rat heart, iris and kidney

Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) tooth

Human head sculpted in clay, refinement of facial features

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Raw onion

3D reconstructed elephant hind limbs

Stomach from a neonatal dog, longitudinal section

Nerves and Vessels of the Brachial Plexus

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

Finding us:

Opening times:

Today's opening times

Wellcome collection