The Best Radiology Anatomy Atlases for CT and MRI in 2026

To learn anatomy on CT and MRI you need labelled scans you can scroll through, not static pictures. The best options in 2026 are the free RadioAnatomy radiology atlas, IMAIOS e-Anatomy for the most complete paid reference, and Radiopaedia for cases once you know the normal anatomy.

What makes a good cross-sectional atlas

• Scrollable stacks, because structures are recognised by following them from slice to slice.
• Labels you can hide, so you can test yourself.
• More than one plane and modality: axial, coronal and sagittal, CT and MRI.
• A link to 3D anatomy, to turn a grey shape back into an organ.
• Access you can afford for the whole course.

The best radiology anatomy atlases

1. 1. RadioAnatomy

   Best for: learning CT and MRI anatomy for free, with a 3D view

   The radiology atlas shows annotated CT and MRI studies slice by slice and in 3D, so you can follow a structure through the stack and then see its shape. It sits next to an anatomy atlas and a histology atlas, and the mobile app adds an AI agent for anatomy questions.

2. 2. IMAIOS e-Anatomy

   Best for: the most comprehensive labelled reference

   Thousands of labelled structures across CT, MRI and radiographs, in many languages. A few modules are free; full access is a subscription, which many radiology departments hold.

3. 3. Radiopaedia

   Best for: cases and reference articles

   A free, collaborative radiology encyclopedia with scrollable cases. Use it once you know the normal anatomy, to see how disease changes it.

4. 4. Radiology Assistant

   Best for: illustrated teaching articles

   Free articles from the Radiological Society of the Netherlands that explain how to read each type of study, with clear diagrams.

5. 5. Complete Anatomy

   Best for: relating a cross-section to a 3D model

   It lets you cut a 3D model in any plane, which helps when the orientation of a scan is confusing. Subscription.

Comparison at a glance

How to learn cross-sectional anatomy

• One region at a time. Start with the chest or the abdomen and stay there for a week.
• Follow, do not memorise. Pick one structure, such as the aorta or the oesophagus, and scroll it from top to bottom.
• Use landmarks. Learn a few levels well (carina, coeliac trunk, renal hilum, femoral heads) and place everything else around them.
• Switch planes. Find the same structure in axial, coronal and sagittal views.
• Hide the labels and name what you see before checking.
• Five minutes a day beats two hours on Sunday.

For a wider plan, read how to learn radiology in medical school and master radiology in 5 minutes per day.

Frequently asked questions

RadioAnatomy is our own product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly. We have no affiliate or commercial relationship with the other tools listed.