Frank H. Netter, M.D. (1906-1991): the artist and his legacy.

The renowned medical illustrator Frank H. Netter, M.D., was born on 25 April 1906 in Brooklyn, NY, and died on 17 September 1991 in New York, NY, at the age of 85. In his professional career, Dr. Netter painted over 4,000 medical illustrations, many of which became the center pieces of over 250 issues of Clinical Symposia and were compiled in the 13 volume set of The CIBA Collection of Medical Illustrations. Two years prior to his death, the Atlas of Human Anatomy was published, considered by many to be Dr. Netter's crowning achievement. The Atlas rapidly became the most widely used atlas of anatomy in American medical schools and currently is published in 16 languages. Netter's impressive career as an illustrator and his unique style and legacy to medical education are summarized briefly in this review.