Website: InnerBody

URL: http://www.innerbody.com

Other Choices: Exploratorium, Wondermind, NASA's Space Place

Education: Complete coverage of the body's systems and their organs with interactive tools for alternate views.

Synopsis: Have fun with anatomy using 3-D images, interactive tools.

Common Sense Rates It:

Parents need to know
Parents need to know that this interactive guide to human anatomy uses 3D illustrations and text to show and describe the human body, from skull to distal phalanx (or, head to toe). InnerBody features over 1500 objects in the body's 13 major anatomical systems with interactive options that allow users to change gender, viewing angle, or to zoom in. The descriptions can be easily understood by a high school biology student or a middle-schooler with an interest in life science.

• Families can talk about how our bodies react to different situations. When was the last time you felt stressed? Scared? Angry? Embarrassed? How do our bodies respond to changes in our thoughts or feelings?
• Practice associating physical symptoms to emotions ("I blush when I feel embarrassed," "My heart races when I feel angry,") to help kids understand their anxious or nervous reactions. Learn relaxation techniques such deep breathing, stretching, or walking to regain control.
• Active games give all kids an opportunity to maintain good physical health and can even engage kids with little interest in competitive athletics. Check out some of our favorite active games for kids, or for the whole family, too!

What's the story?
InnerBody is organized by body system. Kids choose one to explore, and click to zoom in. If they roll the mouse over a body part, they will see it labeled and described. For harder to see objects, they can click the name of a body part from a list. With interactive tools, kids can compare males and females, change anatomical views, and zoom in for close looks at lesser known body parts. The "Change Anatomical System" tool lets kids seamlessly investigate different systems within the same region of the body.

Is it any good?
As free anatomy sites go, the realistic illustrations and detailed descriptions from the award-winning InnerBody are better than most. Its interactive tools give users control over how they explore the human body, and the "Change Anatomical System" feature is unique. However, advertisements are a fact of life on free sites, and while InnerBody's ads are topical, they are invasive. They distract users and force all of the good anatomy information into awkward pop-up boxes that sometimes require an extra click to get it all. Overall InnerBody is a good, interactive companion to a biology class or text if you can get past the offers to solve lower back pain issues, get your social work degree, or donate your body to science.