Human Skeleton Models: A Shopping Guide

The life-size human skeleton models on our top-ten list are all similar in a few ways. They are all constructed from a variety of different materials to emulate the joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments in the human body. How you intend to use your human skeleton model will affect which kind of model you should buy. This article will outline the major categories of human skeleton models to help you figure out which type of model will work best for you.

Size

The first thing you need to decide is what size of model you want. Human skeleton models come in a variety of sizes, from small, 12-inch models to realistic, life-size models that stand 5'6" tall. Life-size models have the potential to include much more detail because there is room to show it. If you want to use your model to demonstrate the fine details of the human skeleton such as its texture and the organization of small bones in the hand or foot, for example, a life-size model will work best for you. Some stores also sell half-size models that are between 2’6” and 3’ tall that can have almost as much detail as larger models.

Details

Speaking of details, the next thing you’ll need to decide is how accurate your model needs to be. In a doctor’s office setting where you want to demonstrate general movement or bone structure to patients, a simple model made of imitation bones and metal pins will suffice. However, if you need to demonstrate the movements of joints or the layout of connective tissues, you’ll want to choose a larger model that includes imitation muscles, tendons or ligaments in addition to the structural metal pins. Even skeleton models that include a complete set of ligaments to imitate natural movements don’t really capture the complex layout of an actual human body. It would be impossible to create a model with all the layers of tissue in a real body. It’s common for the most detailed skeleton models to have labels that indicate the points where the tissues connect to the bones. For example, a model might be fitted with rubber ligaments and then be painted with red dots wherever a muscle connects to a ligament.

Specific Body Parts

The human skeleton models on our lineup are all complete skeletons that are designed to demonstrate the general movements and structure of the human body as a whole. In a more specialized doctor’s office or classroom, you might need an even more detailed replica of a particular part of the body. Many models can serve that purpose too. For example, an orthopedist may want to use enlarged models of a human foot and ankle, or a model that shows the muscles of the torso and shoulders. These enlarged-segment models can feature even more detail because of their larger scale, which is a benefit that life-size skeleton models cannot provide. For even more in-depth study of the human body, you can buy cross-section models that illustrate the layering of different tissues and the interior structures of bones, muscles and organs.

The most important aspect of shopping for medical human skeleton models online is to read the description of each item. Think about what you plan to do with the model and make sure you choose one with an appropriate amount of detail.

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