Previously submitted to: Journal of Medical Internet Research (no longer under consideration since Sep 21, 2026)
Date Submitted: Sep 21, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Sep 21, 2026 - Sep 21, 2026
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The Convergence of Science, Art, and Technology: The Development, Applications, and Future Directions of Medical Illustration
ABSTRACT
This article examines the developmental trajectory, current status, and application domains of medical illustration, alongside the emerging role of artificial intelligence (AI) in this field and its future prospects. By reviewing relevant literature, it traces the origins and evolution of medical illustration from its ancient forms to the modern era, and provides an analysis of its current state of development both domestically and internationally. In the context of the digital and AI era, medical illustration has gained growing importance as a visual medium, with increasingly widespread applications in areas such as clinical practice and medical education. This review summarizes the crucial role of medical illustration across medical education, clinical practice, scientific communication, and public health popularization. It specifically focuses on the critical impact of artificial intelligence on this field. While AI presents significant opportunities for enhancing workflow efficiency, it simultaneously introduces profound technical and ethical challenges. This article analyzes the limitations of AI-generated medical imagery regarding anatomical accuracy, and deeply examines the associated unresolved ethical controversies, including training data copyright infringement, patient privacy risks, and algorithmic biases that overlook human anatomical diversity. Finally, the article discusses the future directions for medical illustration in areas such as education, scientific research, science popularization, and professional training.
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