Please confirm that you would like to log out of Medscape.
If you log out, you will be required to enter your username and password the next time you visit.
Log outCancel
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017
| Contributor Information
Swipe to advance
1 of 24
2017 Wellcome Image Awards
Images courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
2017 Wellcome Image Awards
For the past 20 years, Wellcome Images has showcased the best in science and medical image making. This year's exhibition honors 22 winning images created using techniques as varied as photography and illustration to super-resolution microscopy and medical scans.
2 of 24
Vessels of a Healthy Mini-Pig Eye
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Vessels of a Healthy Mini-Pig Eye
A 3D model of a healthy mini-pig eye illustrating the pupil as well as the blood vessels. The 3D model, which is made from ABS (the same material as Lego), used a type of CT scan to obtain a 3D image and took 39 hours to print.
Photo credit: Peter M. Maloca, OCTlab at the University of Basel and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London; Christian Schwaller; Ruslan Hlushchuk, University of Bern; Sébastien Barré
3 of 24
Language Pathways of the Brain
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Language Pathways of the Brain
Areas of the brain responsible for speech and language have been mapped to two different brain regions. This image shows a 3D-printed reconstruction of the arcuate fasciculus, the white-matter pathway connecting these two areas. The images was generated using a type of MRI called "diffusion imaging" that tracks the movement of water molecules.
Photo credit: Stephanie J. Forkel and Ahmad Beyh, Natbrainlab, King's College London; Alfonso de Lara Rubio, King's College London
4 of 24
Surface of a Mouse Retina
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Surface of a Mouse Retina
This image was created by digitally stitching together more than 400 images to form one large image showing the entire surface of a mouse retina. Blood vessels may be seen radiating from the center, supplying the entire retinal surface, whereas astrocytes—specialist cells of the nervous system that maintain and deliver nutrients to the nerves and the brain, and support the repair processes of the brain and spinal cord after injury—are double-stained in red and green. The image was created using confocal microscopy to produce a digital 3D reconstruction.
Photo credit: Gabriel Luna, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara
5 of 24
The Placenta Rainbow
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
The Placenta Rainbow
This image highlights differences in mouse placental development resulting from manipulation of the mother's immune system. These placentas are from mice with genetically different immune systems, and have been stained for three proteins: Blue represents the nucleus; blood vessels are stained in red; and trophoblasts, the first cells to form in the developing embryo, are stained in green. Additional colors represent the expression of two or more of these proteins in the same cell, with the range of colors indicating the effect that differences in a mother's immune system can have on placental development. The image was created using confocal microscopy.
Photo credit: Suchita Nadkarni, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London
6 of 24
Unraveled DNA in a Human Lung Cell
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Unraveled DNA in a Human Lung Cell
This image shows the nucleus of one of two new daughter cells produced during mitosis. The DNA in this cell has somehow become caught, and is being pulled between the two cells. This has caused the DNA to unfold inside the nucleus, and DNA fibers can be seen running through it. As the new cells have moved apart, the tension distributed by the rope-like DNA has deformed the nucleus's usually circular envelope.
Photo credit: Ezequiel Miron, University of Oxford
7 of 24
Developing Spinal Cord
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Developing Spinal Cord
This series of three images shows the open end of a mouse's neural tube, with each image highlighting one of the three main embryonic tissue types. On the left is the neural tube itself, which develops into the brain, spine, and nerves. On the right is the surface ectoderm, which will eventually form the skin, teeth, and hair. The middle image shows the mesoderm, which will form the organs. The images were created using confocal microscopy.
Photo credit: Gabriel Galea, University College London
8 of 24
Zebrafish Eye and Neuromasts
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Zebrafish Eye and Neuromasts
This 4-day-old zebrafish embryo has been modified using two mechanisms: The DNA-editing technology CRISPR/Cas9 was used to insert the gene Gal4, and these Gal4 fish were then bred with special reporter fish to create offspring in which the gene of interest fluoresces red whenever it is activated. Here, scientists were using the Gal4 reporter fish to study a gene expressed in the lens of the eye and cells called "neuromasts" (red dots). This fish's nervous system has also been labeled for study and is shown in blueish-green. Confocal microscopy was used to generate the image.
Photo credit: Ingrid Lekk and Steve Wilson, University College London
9 of 24
Cat Skin and Blood Supply
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Cat Skin and Blood Supply
A polarized light micrograph of a section of cat skin, showing hairs and whiskers and their blood supply, using a sample from a Victorian microscope slide.
Photo credit: David Linstead
10 of 24
Intraocular Lens Iris Clip
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Intraocular Lens Iris Clip
This clinical image shows how an iris clip, also known as an "artificial intraocular lens," is fitted onto the eye. An iris clip is a small, thin lens made from silicone or acrylic material, with plastic side supports, that is fixed to the iris through a 3-mm surgical incision. They are used to treat such conditions as myopia and cataracts.
Photo credit: Mark Bartley, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
11 of 24
Two Young Boys in Rural Nicaragua
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Two Young Boys in Rural Nicaragua
In Chichigalpa, a town in Nicaragua in Central America, chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than one half of the adult population and is responsible for 75% of deaths among men aged 35-55 years. CKD of nontraditional causes (CKDnT) is associated with heavy labor in hot temperatures, particularly among industrial agricultural workers. Here, two brothers stand in an alley; they have lost two cousins to CKDnT, both of whom worked as cutters in sugarcane fields. The boys' mother still works as a cutter in the fields despite having lost two brothers to CKDnT. The two boys were reluctant to speak to the photojournalist in case it jeopardized their chances of working in the sugarcane fields.
Photo credit: Joshua McDonald
12 of 24
Patient Receiving Treatment During Outreach Eye Screening in India
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Patient Receiving Treatment During Outreach Eye Screening in India
Here, a patient is being treated by an eye doctor at a makeshift eye clinic in India. This image was taken as part of a volunteering mission for the charity Unite For Sight, which has been responsible for providing more than 90,000 cataract surgeries and giving eye care to 1.9 million people, some of whom live in extreme poverty. At this clinic, those requiring further treatment were taken to Kalinga Eye Hospital in Dhenkanal, India, where they received eye surgery. They returned to their villages the following day.
Photo credit: Susan Smart
13 of 24
#breastcancer Twitter Connections
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
#breastcancer Twitter Connections
This is a graphic representation of data extracted from tweets containing the hashtag #breastcancer. Twitter users are represented by the nodes, and the lines connecting nodes represent relationships between Twitter users. Nodes are sized differently according to the number and importance of other nodes they are connected with, and the thickness of each connecting line is determined by the number of times that a particular relationship is expressed within the data. The "double yolk" structure at the top of the image indicates common mentions of two accounts. This area of the graph provides a graphical expression of trending data in Twitter, as it represents one tweet that was retweeted thousands of times.
Photo credit: Eric Clarke, Richard Arnett, and Jane Burns, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
14 of 24
MicroRNA Scaffold Cancer Therapy
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
MicroRNA Scaffold Cancer Therapy
MicroRNAs, short genetic sequences that control the proper function and growth of cells, are being investigated as a possible cancer therapy; however, the ability to efficiently deliver these microRNAs specifically to cancer cells has been an obstacle. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a system that combines two microRNAs with a synthetic polymer to form a stable woven structure similar to a net that can coat a tumor and deliver the two microRNAs locally to cancer cells.
Photo credit: João Conde, Nuria Oliva, and Natalie Artzi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
15 of 24
Synthetic DNA Channel Transporting Cargo Across Membrane
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Synthetic DNA Channel Transporting Cargo Across Membrane
Every cell is surrounded by a membrane, which serves to protect the cell's contents from its external environment, provide support, and connect the cell to others to form tissues and organs. Tube-like channels made of proteins span the membranes that surround every cell, controlling two-way communication between the cell and its environment. Researchers are using DNA as a building material to make synthetic channels that behave in exactly the same way. This image is an artist's representation of what these channels look like. These DNA nanostructures are currently being engineered for use in vaccines, biofuels, and biosensors, and as research tools.
Photo credit: Michael Northrop
16 of 24
Caricatural Medieval Medical Practitioners
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Caricatural Medieval Medical Practitioners
These scenes are inspired by works by medieval artists and the 15th-century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch. The scenes—separated by Asclepian snakes, representing the ancient Greek god of medicine and the modern-day symbol for medicine—show the following (clockwise, from top left):
A parody of alchemy: A masked figure holds in his hand a conical flask from which frogs jump. In the distance, a heron waits for a chance to grab one.
A man sits on a cart, asking a doctor whether his disordered limbs can be repaired.
In an operation scene, a doctor appears to be pulling a bunch of sausages out of a patient's belly while surrounded by hungry dogs.
A medieval surgeon holding a small knife operates on a man's opened head. The patient is also being attended to by a female assistant, who is giving him some tea.
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
'Hidden Learning,' From the Chrysalis Project
"Hidden Learning" is taken from Chrysalis, a project at the University of St Andrews that is designed to bring together women scientists at all stages of their careers to talk about issues and to seek advice and inspiration. A key aim of Chrysalis is to examine how creativity and imagination are required as well as integrity and precision when pursuing scientific research.
"Hidden Learning," an interpretation by artist Sophie McKay Knight, explores what women feel they keep hidden in the work environment, such as the pull between their career and home/other life—unique as that is to every woman. The veil seen in this image is made up of the molecular structure of a sugar molecule, contributed by one of the participating scientists.
Original painting by Sophie McKay Knight, with imagery contributed by women scientists from the University of St Andrews—part of the Chrysalis Project, coordinated by Mhairi Stewart
18 of 24
Stickman — The Vicissitudes of Crohn's (Resolution)
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Stickman — The Vicissitudes of Crohn's (Resolution)
This image is part of a series called "Stickman—The Vicissitudes of Crohn's." Its images are based around the character Stickman, a proxy for or alter ego of the artist, who suffers from Crohn disease. He is made of sticks rather than bones and references the associated symptoms of weight loss; the body's fragility after a flare-up; and the abrupt, transformative nature of Crohn disease. Here, Stickman is chastising his creator, the artist, for deriving artistic inspiration from his illness.
Photo credit: Spooky Pooka
19 of 24
Rita Levi-Montalcini
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Rita Levi-Montalcini
This digital illustration depicts Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012), an Italian neurobiologist and the joint recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of nerve growth factor (NGF). She graduated in medicine in 1936, but owing to Mussolini's 1938 Manifesto of Race, which barred non-Aryan citizens from having academic careers, was forced to build a small laboratory in her family home and work in secret. After the end of World War II, she was invited to Washington University in St Louis by Professor Viktor Hamburger, whose work was her inspiration. It was there that Rita discovered the role of NGF, which has increased the understanding of many conditions, including tumors, developmental malformations, and dementia.
Photo credit: Daria Kirpach/Salzman International
20 of 24
Hawaiian Bobtail Squid
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Hawaiian Bobtail Squid
Native to the Pacific Ocean, Hawaiian bobtail squid are nocturnal predators that remain buried under the sand during the day and come out to hunt for shrimp near coral reefs at night. The squid have a light organ on their underside that houses a colony of glowing bacteria, Vibrio fischeri. The squid provide food and shelter for these bacteria in return for their bioluminescence.
The light organ is attached to an ink sac, which is used like a type of shutter, controlling the amount of light released. The squid matches the light the bacteria produce to the moonlight and starlight, masking its silhouette and making it invisible to predators swimming below. This type of camouflage is called "counter-illumination."
Photo credit: Mark R. Smith, Macroscopic Solutions
21 of 24
Pigeon Thermoregulation
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Pigeon Thermoregulation
The Grey Parrot Anatomy Project was established to create technology to study the anatomy of any animal, including humans. BriteVu, a contrast agent developed during the project, allows researchers to see the entire network of blood vessels in an animal, down to the capillary level. This image, taken using CT, illustrates the intricate network of blood vessels in a pigeon's neck, which helps the animal control its body temperature through a process known as "thermoregulation."
Photo credit: Scott Echols, Scarlet Imaging, and the Grey Parrot Anatomy Project
22 of 24
Brain-on-a-Chip
Image courtesy of Wellcome Images and the Koch Institute at MIT
Scroll
A Must-See: Incredible Medical and Science Images
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Brain-on-a-Chip
This image depicts how neural stem cells grow on PEG, a synthetic gel. After 2 weeks, the stem cells (magenta) produced nerve fibers (green) growing away from the cell.
This work supports the Human-on-a-Chip project, which is devising ways to grow miniature organs on plastic chips to address the inefficiency and cost of traditional drug testing.
Gabriel Miller | April 13, 2017 | Contributor Information
Blood Vessels of the African Grey Parrot
The 3D model details the highly intricate system of blood vessels in the head and neck of an African grey parrot, made possible through the use of the new research contrast agent BriteVu. For the project, 2933 images, each 100 µm (0.1 mm) thick, were taken using CT and then converted into 3D representations using computer modeling to produce models of the skin and brain, the cardiovascular system, and the skeletal system.
Extraordinary Physicians: 12 Doctors Who Break the Mold
In this slideshow, we highlight the accomplishments of a cross-section of America's physicians, a group that illustrates medicine's continuing evolution and diversity.Medscape Features Slideshows, March 2017
Commenting is limited to medical professionals. To comment please Log-in.
Comments on Medscape are moderated and should be professional in tone and on topic. You must declare any conflicts of interest related to your comments and responses. Please see our Commenting Guide for further information. We reserve the right to remove posts at our sole discretion.
Comments on Medscape are moderated and should be professional in tone and on topic. You must declare any conflicts of interest related to your comments and responses. Please see our Commenting Guide for further information. We reserve the right to remove posts at our sole discretion.
Close
Contributor Information
Author
Gabriel Miller
Editorial Director, Medscape Oncology
Close
References
Close
Image Zoom
Close
Feedback
Please do not use this form to submit personal or patient medical information or to report adverse drug events. You are encouraged to report adverse drug event information to the FDA.
Comments