History of AnatomyHistory of Anatomy

Early GreeksEarly GreeksGreeks explained illness in terms of the Greeks explained illness in terms of the

4 body humors (fluids). 4 body humors (fluids). Thought the humors were governed Thought the humors were governed

by air, water, fire, and earthby air, water, fire, and earth 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.

Physicians had to know the Physicians had to know the proper prayers and charms proper prayers and charms wherewith to approach "Apollo wherewith to approach "Apollo the Healer," who would tell the Healer," who would tell them what kind of herb poultice them what kind of herb poultice to put on a wound.to put on a wound.

Many “doctors” practiced by trial Many “doctors” practiced by trial and error. If they made a lot of and error. If they made a lot of errors, people quit going to them.errors, people quit going to them.

Socles, a physician, treated a Socles, a physician, treated a hunchback by piling three solid hunchback by piling three solid stones, each four feet square, on stones, each four feet square, on his spine. He was crushed and his spine. He was crushed and died, but he became straighter.died, but he became straighter.

Early Greek physicianEarly Greek physician Believed that illness Believed that illness

had a physical causehad a physical cause Rejected Rejected

superstitionssuperstitions Based medical Based medical

treatments on treatments on observationsobservations

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

Role of ReligionRole of Religion

Many religions influenced the study of the Many religions influenced the study of the body. body.

Against church doctrine to dissect a Against church doctrine to dissect a human.human.

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

Roman Roman physician, physician, “team doctor” “team doctor” for the 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 mistake was to assume that His mistake was to assume that humans and animals were identical humans and animals were identical internally. internally.

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

Early Early anatomical anatomical

drawing based drawing based on on

misinformation.misinformation.

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

Artists in Renaissance period Artists in Renaissance period interested in human form, so interested in human form, so studied anatomy. studied anatomy.

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

He dissected bodies in secret. He dissected bodies in secret.

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

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

Got special permission from the Got special permission from the Pope to dissect criminals. Pope to dissect criminals.

First scientist to understand human First scientist to understand human anatomy. anatomy.

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

Shortage of cadaversShortage of cadavers

In England and Scotland, medical In England and Scotland, medical schools began to open.schools began to open.

No one donated bodies to science – No one donated bodies to science – churchgoers believed in literal churchgoers believed in literal rising from grave, so dissection rising from grave, so dissection spoiled chances of resurrection.spoiled chances of resurrection.

Became a tradition to rely on Became a tradition to rely on executed prisoners, even up to 18th executed prisoners, even up to 18th and 19th centuries. and 19th centuries.

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 from crime.another deterrent from crime.

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

hung hung and dissected and dissected Anatomists were often associated Anatomists were often associated

withwith executioners. executioners.

Because they needed body parts, Because they needed body parts, anatomists at medical school anatomists at medical school bought odd things.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.

Not a crime; a dead body could not Not a crime; a dead body could not be owned or stolen.be owned or stolen.

(Anatomy studies were only (Anatomy studies were only conducted from October to May to conducted from October to May to avoid stench of decomposition.)avoid stench of decomposition.)

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

William Burke and William HareWilliam Burke and William HareCirca 1828Circa 1828

2 resurrectionists2 resurrectionists Hare owned a boarding house; he Hare owned a boarding house; he

occasionally killed a border who was occasionally killed a border who was late on rent. (Killed 15 of them) late on rent. (Killed 15 of them)

Did it by pressing pillow to man’s face Did it by pressing pillow to man’s face while Burke lay his body weight on top while Burke lay his body weight on top of victim. Became known as of victim. Became known as “Burking.” “Burking.”

Bones made into skeletons for medical Bones made into skeletons for medical school. Skin used to make wallets.school. Skin used to make wallets.

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.