Where Art Meets Anatomy: The Science of Medical Illustration
Written by Gabby Coleman
Edited by Aseel Albokhari
As the COVID-19 pandemic began, news shifted daily, yet most people can still picture one constant: the gray sphere covered in red spikes. This wasn’t a photograph, but a medical illustration created so the public could see what was otherwise invisible. “One of the most recognizable recent examples of medical illustration is the depiction of the coronavirus SARS CoV-2,” says Aimee Son, MS, CMI, a certified medical illustrator at Boston Children’s Hospital. "During a confusing and challenging time, this illustration played a crucial role in helping people around the world better understand the virus and its impact.” Though made with modern tools, it reflects a centuries-old tradition of using drawings to reveal the inner workings of the body and make complex science easier to grasp.
Often misunderstood as decorative, medical illustration has a history stretching back over 2,000 years. First emerging in Hellenistic Alexandria during the 4th century BC, early illustrations were created on papyrus to document anatomy, surgery, and obstetrics [1]. During the Renaissance, an increase in scientific knowledge, paired with artists’ renewed inspiration by naturalistic Greek and Roman art, led to greater anatomical accuracy. Leonardo da Vinci is often considered the first modern medical illustrator: by combining scientific understanding with artistic skill, he pioneered the use of cross-sections and exploded views to depict anatomy more clearly [1,2].
Photo from Deezy. Curated by Kayla Vance (kmv53@cornell.edu)
By the early twentieth century, the practice became more formalized. In 1911, medical illustrator Max Brödel founded the first medical illustration program at Johns Hopkins University, emphasizing the idea that artistic skill should be grounded in deep anatomical understanding [2].
Over a century later, the core purpose remains the same: to translate intimidating science into visuals people can understand. At Boston Children’s Hospital, Son collaborates with orthopedic surgeons and specialists to create surgical teaching animations, research illustrations, and patient education materials. She describes medical illustration as the perfect intersection of her passions: biology, anatomy, and art.
This work involves learning, translating, and storytelling. Their goal, Son explains, is clarity. Scientific language can be intimidating, but visuals help invite understanding without requiring specialized knowledge. She adjusts the level of detail and realism in her illustrations based on the audience: an illustration for surgeons-in-training might include meticulous detail. In contrast, a patient-facing image will be framed in a more approachable manner.
Accuracy is non-negotiable, and illustrations are developed with surgeons’ input to ensure correctness. “Creativity in medical illustration is NEVER about ‘making things up’ with artistic license,” Son explains. “I use my artistic skills and judgment to communicate science as clearly and effectively as possible.” To emphasize what matters most, she highlights crucial structures and reduces visual noise by omitting any irrelevant background anatomy.
Photo from Deezy. Curated by Kayla Vance (kmv53@cornell.edu)
In research, illustration goes far beyond aesthetics; it helps shape how scientists think, collaborate, and communicate. “My illustrations are viewed by specialists around the globe and help communicate critical findings and outcomes, supporting the important work of our teams,”
Son says. Visuals clarify relationships or findings that are difficult to describe in writing — such as anatomical changes during treatment or a new surgical approach.
With the help of technological advances, medical illustrators are constantly improving how they share their work. What once existed only as flat images can now be transformed into interactive training modules, enhancing the learning for the next generation of medical students. Despite advances in software, the emotional impact of illustration remains distinctly human.
“I think visual storytelling can have a really big impact,” Son says. “When medical illustrations show human faces or represent the specific groups affected by a condition, it helps people connect emotionally to the research. It makes complex studies feel more relatable and grounded in real life.” She adds that representation matters; illustrating diverse patients helps highlight health disparities and encourage inclusivity.
Medical illustration often reveals raw data cannot: that science is not only about cells and systems, but also about understanding, connection, and the story of being human.
Gabby Coleman ’29 is in the College of Engineering. She can be reached at ggc38@cornell.edu.
