A double bassist with arm outstretched, the flexor muscles drawn.

Anatomy

Images for your talks

The images

Muscles, bones and tendons drawn straight onto musicians’ skin, instrument in hand: these images show the body at work, as it plays.

These photographs grew out of the work done for the book series Anatomie du musicien (The Musician’s Anatomy). They are also organised region by region, from the feet up to the head and on to the hands, on a page I share on request. Here are a few series, instrument by instrument; click on a photo to enlarge it.

A forearm above a bow, with the finger flexors drawn.

Strings

Violin · cello · double bass

  • A violinist, the forearm extensor muscles drawn on her skin.
  • A violinist, with the shoulder and brachial plexus drawn.
  • A violinist seated, seen from behind, with the trapezius muscles drawn.
  • A cellist leaning back against a ball, with the arm muscles drawn.
  • A double bassist seen from behind, with the shoulder muscles drawn.
  • A double bassist with arm outstretched, the flexor muscles drawn.
  • A forearm above a bow, with the finger flexors drawn.
  • A hand on the bow, with bones and tendons drawn.
A face seen upside down beneath a horn, with the facial muscles drawn.

Winds

Clarinet · trombone · trumpet · horn

  • A clarinettist seen from behind, with the shoulder muscles drawn.
  • A clarinettist in profile, with the face and arm muscles drawn.
  • A trombonist, with the face and neck muscles drawn.
  • A trumpeter, with the wrist extensors drawn.
  • A face seen upside down beneath a horn, with the facial muscles drawn.
A drummer, with the shoulder muscles drawn.

Percussion and keyboards

Drums · organ · harpsichord

  • A drummer, with the shoulder muscles drawn.
  • An arm above a snare drum, with the wrist muscles drawn.
  • A seated drummer, with the leg and ankle muscles drawn.
  • An organist, with the leg muscles drawn, at the pedalboard.
  • Hands on a harpsichord, with bones and tendons drawn.

Voice

  • A singer seated at the microphone, with the trunk muscles drawn.
  • A singer at the microphone, with the diaphragm drawn.
  • A singer leaning into the microphone, with the body’s muscles drawn.
  • A singer in profile, with the neck muscles drawn.

Guitar and accordion

  • A guitarist, with the back muscles and diaphragm drawn.
  • An accordionist seen from behind, with the back muscles drawn.
Violinist in a forward lunge: pelvis and femur drawn

Anatomy by region

Bones · Joints · Muscles · Nerves

Using them

Are you a teacher, healthcare professional, researcher or musician preparing a talk, a class or a training course? You may use these images freely, on one condition: credit the author and the Anatomie du musicien series.

For example, under the image or on the slide:

Photo: Marc Papillon, marcpapillon.com. Anatomie du musicien series, Marc Papillon.

The series is presented on the Marc Papillon Éditions website.

Going further

For any other use (publication, printed or commercial material, high-resolution images) or for an image not shown here, write to me: I will get back to you quickly.