MAPs

MAP: Musculoskeletal Atlas Project

The SPARC Portal displays detailed maps of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) based on SPARC Ecosystem data and information available in literature. These include the Anatomical Connectivity (AC) flatmap, the Functional Connectivity (FC) flatmap, and the Whole Body 3D map. Together with individual anatomical models, or scaffolds, MAPs provide the PNS community with the ability to coregister datasets with anatomical landmarks providing unprecedented visual exploration and data integration.

Flatmaps

Flatmaps published on the SPARC Portal provide 2D graphical representations of the anatomy, functionality, and topology of the connectivity of the PNS, in a Google Maps-like web-interface.

There are two types of flatmaps: an Anatomical Connectivity (AC) flatmap and a Functional Connectivity (FC) flatmap.

The AC and FC flatmaps allow knowledge captured in the SPARC Connectivity Knowledge base of the Autonomic Nervous system to be visualized and interactively explored on the SPARC Portal, including presenting relevant SPARC-published data as a user navigates through the interface.

The FC flatmap is a tool that provides the semantic description of all anatomical locations in the mammalian body along with the connectivity of networks that transfer information (neural connectivity) or mass flow (blood vessels and lymphatics) between these locations.

Learn more about Anatomical Connectivity (AC) and Functional Connectivity (FC) flatmaps

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Creating and displaying your own flatmap

Detailed instructions on creating and displaying your own flatmaps are available on the Anatomical Flatmap Resources page.

3D Whole Body

The 3D whole-body map shows physical connectivity in an anatomically realistic context. Current developments are working toward enabling portal users to interactively explore connectivity seamlessly between the neuron population representation on the flatmaps and the nerve representation in the whole-body map.

Anatomical Models: Organ Scaffold Maps

Beyond the two-dimensional flatmaps, we also look to register data to three-dimensional organ scaffolds to provide maps in a common coordinate framework enabling disparate data to be integrated in order to improve our understanding of the collective SPARC knowledge. Learn more about Anatomical Models as datasets, how to explore them in the Scaffold Viewer, and how to map your data to existing scaffolds.

Integrated Maps Viewer

The integrated maps viewer can be used to access and interact with:

Anatomical Connectivity (AC) Flatmaps / 3D maps

Anatomical Models (scaffolds)

Data

Simulations

Where can I find the integrated maps viewer?

You can navigate to integrated maps viewer from both the SPARC Portal homepage and from the SPARC Apps page.

SPARC Portal Homepage

Click on the View the Maps button (1) to open the Maps page directly.

By default, the integrated maps viewer shows a human male Flatmap. This is done using the flatmap viewer, from which anatomical scaffolds, data, and simulations can be accessed.

SPARC Apps page

Click on the SPARC Apps tab from the top navigation bar.

1. Click View AC Map to open the default Anatomical Connectivity flatmap (human male) or click the available species.
2. Click View 3D Body to open the 3D whole-body scaffold.
3. Click View FC Map to open the Functional Connectivity flatmap.