3 Anatomy Apps That Help You Know Your Body Better

Published May 15, 2025 07:10AM

As with any movement, your yoga practice is likely accompanied by an increased curiosity about your physical body. After all, asana serves as a sort of celebration of form, with shapes and transitions designed to stretch and strengthen as you balance and breathe. As you move through poses, noticing the way your body works is a natural side effect—one aided greatly by even a basic understanding of anatomy.

A yoga teacher training, workshop, or even a crazy committed practice can double as a crash course in anatomy. But should you want to unravel your skeletal and muscular systems at your own pace, the best anatomy apps allow you to learn about the many levels of the human body at your leisure.

3D renderings, multi-views, and the ability to tap your way through physical layers make anatomy apps the ultimate means of demystifying your body. Whether you’re looking to comprehend your own movements and pain points or better explain something to your students, these interactive apps make anatomy textbooks seem positively archaic.

3 Anatomy Apps to Further Your Understanding of Your Body

These anatomy apps make peeling back the layers of the human body simple, informative, and not at all gross.

Best All-Around Anatomy App

Essential Anatomy 5

Simple yet incredibly in-depth, Essential Anatomy 5 relies on interactive 3D renderings and allows users to add and remove the 11 complete systems (muscular, nervous, etc.) for a holistic picture of a male or female body. Each system invites more in-depth exploration: simply tap a muscle or nerve, isolate it, and read through an explanation detailing exactly what it is and what it does.

Considering that the app contains more than 4,000 anatomic structures, you’re sure to find information pertaining to any physical aspect you’re interested in.

The best part about this app is the ease of use. Explaining muscular and joint interaction to students or yourself is worlds simpler with this illustrative app—especially given that you can bookmark and share any structure or system.

Best Anatomy App for Note-Takers

Human Anatomy Atlas 2025

Another go-to among anatomy fans (whether yogis, medical students, or the generally curious), Human Anatomy Atlas features male and female 3D models to help you understand the body.

Human Anatomy Atlas showcases 10 bodily systems along with cross-sections, microanatomy, muscular actions, and more. Interactive animation allows you to take a closer look from all possible angles, and the app comes with a transparency option, the better to easily see what’s layered underneath each anatomical structure. Also, an annotation option means you can take—and return to—clarifying notes.

One note: some reviewers note that the gendered bodies are not quite distinct enough.

Best Budget Anatomy App

Anatomy 3D Atlas

Anatomy 3D Atlas has all of the elements of a good anatomy app: it’s interactive, includes bodily systems that can be easily moved through via arrows, and allows for isolation of anatomical structures. Information is available for every structure, and everything is pinnable, making it easy to return to later.

Although this app details everything one might need to know about the body, the interface is a touch clunkier than we would like, both in terms of general use and isolated views. Additionally, only a male body is presented, and much of the app’s functionality is behind a paywall.

Free with in-app purchases (including the “Full Version,” available for $24.99)