An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit which stores the
data of a plurality of images including an examination target organ of an
object, a reference point determining unit which determines, from each of
the images, a reference point which is located in or near a region of the
examination target organ and undergoes a relatively small displacement
accompanying respiratory motion or, heartbeat, and a moving amount
calculation unit which determines the position of each of a plurality of
points of interest included in the region of the examination target organ
relative to the reference point for each of the images, and calculates,
based on the determined positions, moving amounts that corresponding
points of interest between the images move accompanying the respiratory
motion or the heartbeat.