Global Virtual Human Anatomy Software Market Research Report 2024-Competitive Analysis, Status and Outlook by Type, Downstream Industry, and Geography, Forecast to 2030

Global Virtual Human Anatomy Software Market Research Report 2024-Competitive Analysis, Status and Outlook by Type, Downstream Industry, and Geography, Forecast to 2030

Virtual anatomy is a technological tool that enables interactive anatomical visualization and learning. By using virtual anatomy, learners, educators, and professionals can explore and better understand the human body. The virtual human anatomy software creates human anatomy atlases and virtual anatomy laboratories in virtual reality. Based on the real human body, the software visualizes human anatomy in extremely rich detail in a fully immersive holographic space. Virtual human anatomy software can be used in anatomy and medical teaching.

Market Overview:

The latest research study on the global Virtual Human Anatomy Software market finds that the global Virtual Human Anatomy Software market reached a value of USD 137.55 million in 2023. It’s expected that the market will achieve USD 280.52 million by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 12.61% during the forecast period.

COVID-19 has placed financial and operational pressure on healthcare systems across countries. The virtual human anatomy software market growth was initially negatively impacted due to constraints in the manufacturing and supply chain industries. Many countries around the world have imposed lockdown restrictions and travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting supply chains and market demand for commodities and materials. Trade restrictions, production site closures, declining productivity, cash flow constraints, and labor shortages have reduced profit margins in most manufacturing industries around the world. This has affected the supply capacity of the upstream industry of virtual human anatomy software. The upstream is mainly software and hardware suppliers that provide basic services (computer hardware equipment, system software, development tool software, middleware, and databases).

On a positive note, the COVID-19 crisis has created an opportunity for the healthcare industry to implement VR. The demand for virtual reality tools in the healthcare industry has increased dramatically during the pandemic. Health organizations are offering virtual appointments and are expanding telehealth options. The implementation of virtual reality in healthcare allows doctors to understand and study the impact of new virus strains. Virtual reality in healthcare is also helping medical professionals gain real-time radiographic insights showing the impact of disease on a patient's body. Most patients recovering from COVID-19 infection suffer from post-intensive care syndrome. Virtual reality technology helps patients recover from this syndrome through virtual rehabilitation sessions. At the same time, the pandemic has led to increased demand for online and interactive learning courses. For example, medical students face challenges when choosing practical courses because no technology is available to provide students with face-to-face learning. This is driving the implementation of virtual reality in medical learning and training courses. Additionally, investments in virtual care and digital health have skyrocketed, driving further innovations in healthcare software. Hence, COVID-19 has greatly contributed to the growth of virtual reality in the healthcare market, and promoted the development of the virtual human anatomy software industry.

Advantages of virtual human anatomy software

Anatomy is one of the most important areas of medicine, and human anatomy is a core component of health science programs in nursing, kinesiology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Difficulties with traditional anatomy practice include the large investment of time, space, and resources required for anatomy laboratory classes; the limited duration of experimental classes; the limited view and ability of students to manipulate cadavers; and the excessive student numbers and intensive classes that make it difficult to deliver weekly dissections. Virtual anatomy tools include 3D models, animations, quizzes, augmented reality, and more to make anatomy learning virtual. Virtual anatomy technology bridges the gap between gross anatomy and state-of-the-art medical imaging, providing the opportunity to study cross-sectional anatomy and radiography as well as cadaver dissection. Utilizing virtual anatomy can help explain concepts of anatomy, physiology, muscles, bones, and the circulatory system. Virtual human dissection software adds a level of interactivity and engagement that is a huge advantage over printed textbooks, crude plastic models, or bland slides. Benefits include enhanced spatial awareness for learners; users can access different locations and gain input from others more easily; and after completing labs, students can study course material and then take graded quizzes. High-resolution layers display thousands of anatomical structures, superposition of medical images can diagnose and compare patients; simulation responds to user's actions and motions, allowing interaction between user and interface; saves cost and space; records anatomy courses, develops content, stores, and shares with users around the world.

In the software-constructed virtual anatomy lab, students were able to manipulate 3D models of the human body and perform essentially the types of experiments they would normally do in an anatomy lab. The virtual cadaver table will display a life-size virtual cadaver, allowing learners to experience gross anatomy in axial, sagittal, and coronal slices. This technique also allows full control over clipping planes. These features further provide the ability to explore anatomical images and enhance anatomical relationships. Radiology Department (RAD) workstations allow users to access a library of de-identified patient images. These images include X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and diagnostic procedures using the PACS viewer. Users then apply their anatomical knowledge to the workstation to navigate and interpret clinical and diagnostic images. Ultrasound courses provide learners and professionals with more hands-on experience with anatomy, allowing users to perform ultrasound examinations on patients. CT and MRI scans will show learners how to use game technology to navigate and explore anatomy from any direction. With visualization capabilities, users can view and interact with MRI and CT scan data quickly and efficiently. Virtual human anatomy software provides a virtual meeting space where multiple users can participate in anatomy classes or discussions while viewing rendered images or medical imaging scans. The software can be used by individuals in different spaces, allowing multiple users to interact and view presentations. Additionally, virtual human anatomy software offers a cost-effective way to train medical professionals compared to traditional methods such as dissection or animal testing. But while virtual anatomy software is an effective form of advancing digital technology, virtual anatomy is unlikely to fully replace gross anatomy. Many healthcare educators and leaders believe that early exposure to real-life anatomy will serve as a reference point for learners throughout their careers. Overall, virtual human anatomy software has many advantages. As these advantages are known to more people, the virtual human anatomy software industry will develop rapidly.

Growing demand for medical education and training

The healthcare industry is expanding globally, with medical institutions increasingly using virtual human anatomy software to train their staff and students. Overall employment in the healthcare industry is projected to grow 13 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to 2022 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; this growth is expected to create about 2 million new jobs over a decade. Rapid medical technology and research advancements, new treatment options, drugs, and medical devices are driving the growth of the medical education market. In the medical field, institutions such as universities and academic centers, continuing medical education providers, learning management systems, educational platforms, OEM/pharmaceutical companies, and medical simulations are considered reliable and reputable providers of knowledge and skills. But traditional higher education cannot handle the surge in numbers pursuing degrees in health care, with post-pandemic social distancing guidelines in classrooms and residency programs adding further pressure.

As real estate costs increase for universities in the context of inflation, universities must maximize their human and real estate capital, and the key is to combine traditional learning technologies with digital learning technologies. With the development of digital technology, e-learning has become more and more popular. The e-learning solutions segment is dominating the medical education market due to cost-effectiveness, flexibility in learning schedules, and ease of accessing content anytime and anywhere. Digital content also gives students greater control over their education, allowing them to pursue more broadly the topics that interest them most. In addition, as more and more people pursue education while working, such as registered nurses studying to become licensed nurses, the need for flexibility in content delivery increases. Regulatory requirements for physicians to maintain licensure and certification, advanced healthcare systems, high demand for specialized care in geriatrics, oncology, and palliative care, and technological advancements in developed countries in Europe and the United States are all requiring further advanced medical education for medical personnel. Hence, the increased demand for medical education and training in the healthcare market is driving the demand for virtual human anatomy software.

Region Overview:

In 2022, the share of the Virtual Human Anatomy Software market in North America stood at 38.63%.

Company Overview:

The major players operating in the Virtual Human Anatomy Software market include BioDigital, Elsevier (3D4Medical), Visible Body, Anatomage, Kenhub, etc. Among which, BioDigital ranked top in terms of sales and revenue in 2023.

BioDigital created the world’s first #interactive3D body platform to revolutionize the understanding of the human body. Often referred to as “Google Maps for the Human Body,” the BioDigital Human platform is a medically accurate, virtual map of the human body—composed of over 8,000 individually selectable anatomical structures, 600 simulated health conditions, and a toolkit to map and visualize data. This fully embeddable, cloud-based software is available in eight languages, on any desktop, mobile device, or in AR/VR for use within any educational or clinical workflow.

BioDigital is used at the top medical schools and education companies, equipping tomorrow’s clinicians with the training they’ll need to reduce the third leading cause of death - medical errors. BioDigital is at the point of care in hospitals, helping clinicians communicate complex health concepts to patients and combating the $2 billion wasted last year in the US due to low health literacy. BioDigital is at the cutting edge of medical advancements, enabling leading pharmaceutical and device companies to communicate breakthrough treatments and procedures. Today, over 100 million health conversations across the globe are powered by BioDigital visualization technology each year.

Segmentation Overview:

By type, 3D Anatomy Software segment accounted for the largest share of market in 2022.

Application Overview:

By application, the Teaching segment occupied the biggest share from 2018 to 2022.

Key Companies in the global Virtual Human Anatomy Software market covered in Chapter 3:

Kenhub
3D Organon
Visible Body
Anatomage
BioDigital
Virtual Medicine
4D Interactive Anatomy
Anatomy 3D Atlas
Elsevier (3D4Medical)
Zygote Body
Primal Pictures
AnatomyLearning
BodyViz

In Chapter 4 and Chapter 14.2, on the basis of types, the Virtual Human Anatomy Software market from 2019 to 2030 is primarily split into:

3D Anatomy Software
4D Anatomy Software

In Chapter 5 and Chapter 14.3, on the basis of Downstream Industry, the Virtual Human Anatomy Software market from 2019 to 2030 covers:

Medical
Teaching
Research
Others

Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate, historic and forecast (2019-2030) of the following regions are covered in Chapter 8 to Chapter 14:

North America (United States, Canada)
Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland, Sweden)
Asia Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia)
Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina)
Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa)