Thanks to the progress in examination of human body, it is possible to create new methods of diagnostics. To diagnose diseases properly, one should recognize the internal and external structure of organs, their geometrical parameters, width, height, etc. And this is a place, in which cooperation between coordinate metrology and medicine is the most strong. Metrological devices could be used in this area, in a variety of uses. Paper shows usage of Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) and Coordinate Measuring Arms (CMA) in determination of external structure, dimensions and shape of measured objects (part of bones and joints). Also use of Computed Tomographs (CT) in medical applications will be presented. Then the comparison of results of measurements performed on each device will be made. Apart from this, article puts attention on practical meaning of results obtained from CT measurements. Problem of the shape mapping and its accuracy will also be discussed.