The Internet Atlas of Histology

Benjamin Williams

Assistant Professor

Cell & Structural Biology

UIUC

24 February 2000

A small team at the UIUC College of medicine has developed an interactive web site that teaches histology (microanatomy) to medical students. Several hallmarks of the "Internet Atlas of Histology" include 1) the ability to navigate through microscopic specimens and change magnification, 2) "clickable" object labels that describe the function of histological features, 3) a fully searchable object-oriented database/index, and 4) self-assessment quizzes.  The atlas has more than 1,500 high quality images and 1,100 labeled features.  To further increase the accessibility of this material, we have also produced and distributed to each medical student a free CD-ROM containing the entire atlas and associated lab exercises.  The atlas "team" is now working on version 2.0 of this software.  Version 2.0  will include a "virtual" microscope and a complete collection of "virtual" histology specimens.  This new software depends on the automated collection of huge composite images.  We are acquiring these images using the "tiled" imaging capabilities of the Beckman Imaging Technology Group.  A working version of the "virtual" microscope will also be demonstrated during the talk.