X-ray GIFs Show Joints In Motion

photo credit: Cameron Drake/Noah Weiss

The human body has four types of movable joints. Most people don’t really think about them unless they start to become painful. In fact, their motion is really quite beautiful, but that beauty can be hard to appreciate because we usually can’t see how the bones are sliding around relative to one another.

X-rays provide a window inside the body, but they are most often static images that don’t depict movement. However, Cameron Drake of San Francisco has created a collection of magnificent images showing joints in motion. He was aided by orthopedic physician Dr. Noah Weiss and the finished product is completely amazing. If you’d like to know more about the project, please check out Drake’s blog. Dr. Weiss also has a blog to feature these awesome images. 

Shoulder:

Elbow:

Wrist and Hand:

Knee:

Ankle and Foot:

Want more amazing inside views? Check out the 3D x-ray view of a flying insect, MRI scans of produce, metaphase of a cell, and Danny Quirk’s amazing anatomically-correct body art.

[Hat tip: i09]

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