History of AnatomyHistory of Anatomy

Early EgyptiansEarly Egyptians

1600 BC1600 BC

Masters of mummificationMasters of mummification

Removed heart, liver, spleen, Removed heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, hypothalamus, uterus, kidneys, hypothalamus, uterus, bladderbladder

Knew that blood vessels came from Knew that blood vessels came from heartheart

Thought some vessels carried air, Thought some vessels carried air, while others carried mucuswhile others carried mucus

Early GreeksEarly GreeksExplained illness in terms of the 4 body Explained illness in terms of the 4 body

humors (fluids): humors (fluids):

bloodblood

phlegmphlegm

yellow bile yellow bile

black bile black bile

Healthy person had all four humors in Healthy person had all four humors in balance. balance.

Bloodletting was a way of getting rid Bloodletting was a way of getting rid of excess humors.of excess humors.

Earliest anatomistEarliest anatomist Greek physicianGreek physician Rejected Rejected

superstitionssuperstitions Based medical Based medical

treatments on treatments on observationsobservations

Hippocrates (460 to 379 BC)Hippocrates (460 to 379 BC)

Herophilus (275 BC) Herophilus (275 BC)

Egyptian teacherEgyptian teacher Performed dissectionsPerformed dissections Described organsDescribed organs Student of Hippocrates Student of Hippocrates First to measure the pulse, for First to measure the pulse, for

which he used a water clock.which he used a water clock.

Claudius Galen (120 to 200)Claudius Galen (120 to 200)

Roman Roman physician, “team physician, “team doctor” for the doctor” for the gladiators. gladiators.

Kept them alive Kept them alive so they could so they could fight again.fight again.

Did not dissect humans, but did Did not dissect humans, but did extensive work on pigs and extensive work on pigs and monkeys. monkeys.

His writings were taken as “law” His writings were taken as “law” for hundred of years.for hundred of years.

Early Early anatomical anatomical

drawing based drawing based on on

misinformation.misinformation.

12351235

First European medical school First European medical school founded in Italyfounded in Italy

Human bodies publicly Human bodies publicly dissecteddissected

Books Books

1450s - Moveable type 1450s - Moveable type inventedinvented

1491 – First medical book 1491 – First medical book publishedpublished

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 to 1519)Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 to 1519)

Artist in Renaissance periodArtist in Renaissance period

Interested in human form, so Interested in human form, so studied anatomy. studied anatomy.

Dissected bodies in secret. Dissected bodies in secret.

Da Vinci made hundreds of Da Vinci made hundreds of anatomically correct anatomically correct drawings.drawings.

Andreas Vesalius (1514 to Andreas Vesalius (1514 to 1564)1564)

Barber surgeon Barber surgeon (combination (combination barber, dentist, barber, dentist, doctor). doctor).

First scientist to First scientist to accurately draw accurately draw bodies. bodies.

Got special Got special permission from permission from the Pope to the Pope to

dissect criminals. dissect criminals.

Wrote the first Wrote the first accurate book on accurate book on human anatomy human anatomy – – FabricaFabrica..

Shortage of cadaversShortage of cadavers

In England and Scotland, medical In England and Scotland, medical schools opened in 1600s.schools opened in 1600s.

Relied on executed prisoners for Relied on executed prisoners for cadaverscadavers

Serious CrimesSerious Crimes

The added punishment of being The added punishment of being dissected after death was considered dissected after death was considered another deterrent to crime.another deterrent to crime.

Ex. – Steal a pig: you were hungEx. – Steal a pig: you were hung Kill a person: you were hung & Kill a person: you were hung &

dissecteddissected Anatomists were often associated withAnatomists were often associated with

executioners. executioners.

Because anatomists needed body Because anatomists needed body parts, they bought odd things.parts, they bought odd things.

A man could sell the leg of his son A man could sell the leg of his son if it had to be amputatedif it had to be amputated

William Harvey (English)William Harvey (English) Circa 1590 Circa 1590

““Father of Anatomy”; studied Father of Anatomy”; studied circulatory systemcirculatory system

Harvey dissected his own Harvey dissected his own freshly dead family members freshly dead family members (his father and sister) before (his father and sister) before burial.burial.

Grave RobbingGrave Robbing

Some medical students raided Some medical students raided grave yards; some professors grave yards; some professors did also.did also.

In certain Scottish schools in In certain Scottish schools in 1700s, you could trade a corpse 1700s, you could trade a corpse for your tuition.for your tuition.

ResurrectionistsResurrectionists By 1828 in London, body snatchers By 1828 in London, body snatchers

(or resurrectionists) provided the (or resurrectionists) provided the medical schools with corpses.medical schools with corpses.

Wealthy people chose to be buried Wealthy people chose to be buried in iron cages, some covered in in iron cages, some covered in concrete. concrete.

Also churches built “dead houses” Also churches built “dead houses” which were locked and guarded.which were locked and guarded.

String tied to bell.String tied to bell.

Anatomy Act of 1832 – bodies of Anatomy Act of 1832 – bodies of poor who were not claimed for poor who were not claimed for burial could be used by burial could be used by anatomists.anatomists.

Operated under this same concept Operated under this same concept until recently.until recently.

Donations are on the rise.Donations are on the rise.