Computational anatomy for multi-organ analysis in medical imaging: A review

•This manuscript presents a thorough review of the state-of-the-art on multi-organ analysis in medical imaging.•More than 300 papers reviewed, discussed, and categorized methodologically and anatomically.•For the first time, this paper proposes a methodology-based classification of the different techniques available for the analysis of multi-organ anatomical complex, from the simple global modelling, to the more sophisticated sequential and multi-resolution techniques.•The different methodologies for multi-organ analysis are classified using the following categorization: global and individual models, coupled deformable models, multi-level models, sequential models, atlas-based models, machine-learning models, graphical models, and articulated models.•The manuscripts also reflects on the trends and challenges of multi-organ analysis, the peculiarities of each anatomical region, and its impact on the future of healthcare