Anatomy Overview and History

Anatomy Overview

• Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body.
• It originates from the Greek word anatome (dissection).
• Anatomy is connected to physiology, which studies the normal functions of a healthy body.
• Anatomical problems often cause dysfunction, such as heart defects.
• However, abnormal structure doesn't always cause disease.
• Individuals with abnormal function can still live healthy lives.

History of Anatomy

• Anatomy's history shows peaks and valleys.
• It initially peaked in Alexandria two thousand years ago.
• It declined during the medieval period.
• It gained momentum during the Renaissance.
• It declined slightly in the early modern period but saw another peak in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
• Dissection was sometimes ambivalent or avoided.
• The importance of art in depicting anatomy emerged and it was separated from medicine. In recent times, there has been a renewed integration with medicine

Ancient Egypt and Greece

• Egypt: Mummification practices led to knowledge of internal organs. Anatomy was crucial for religious beliefs and the Book of the Dead.
• Greece: Interest in surface anatomy was common. Doctors prioritized function over structure (humoral system). Dissection was forbidden.

Greek Thinkers

• Hippocrates: The Hippocratic Corpus contained writings attributed to Hippocrates and his students. Anatomy was a foundational aspect of medicine but seen through external observation. They had good descriptions of the skeletal system but knowledge about internal organs was limited.
• Aristotle: Conclusions about the human body were based on animal dissection and a teleological view: each part serves a higher purpose. For example, the eye sends information about vision to the heart, then to the soul.

Alexandria

• This was the first formal school of anatomy.
• Herophilus (325-255 BC) is considered "the father of anatomy". He provided detailed anatomical descriptions from ancient Greece. He differentiated sensory and motor nerves and challenged the Aristotelian view that the heart was the centre of intelligence; Herophilus correctly identified the brain.
• Herophilus was accused of dissecting live criminals and the ethics of dissection in this era is questioned.

Rome and the Islamic World

• Galen (129-c. 210): practiced in Rome and Pergamon and used gladiators to learn about anatomical variations and wounds. He dissected animals, although he opposed human dissection. He believed in teleology. Major errors in Galen's anatomy were superseded later.
• Islamic scholars translated and preserved and expanded Greek and Roman anatomical knowledge. Many of these writings were illustrated with drawings.

Medieval Church and Dissection

• The influence of Christian tradition emphasized the soul over the body regarding the importance for dissections. Dissection caused concern about endangering resurrection.
• Tensions arose between medical schools and the church.
• Dissection was infrequent, often occurring only once every five years.

Medieval Dissection Practices

• Determining the cause of death was often a focus.
• Ritualistic practices around dissections were common.
• Differences between the observed cadaver and classical Galenic ideals were noted.
• Mondino dei Luzzi (c. 1270-1326) reintroduced public dissections at the University of Bologna creating a widely recognised standard.

Renaissance Art and Anatomy

• The Renaissance saw a renewed interest in the human body.
• Artists began to focus on realistic depictions through anatomical studies.
• Artists like Leonardo DaVinci created anatomical drawings.
• The bubonic plague and New World diseases also impacted attitudes towards body function and Galenic ideas.

Andreas Vesalius

• Born in 1514 in Brussels and studied in Louvain and Paris
• Moved to Padua where dissection was prevalent.
• Became professor of surgery at age 23, and began teaching anatomy.
• Produced the Tabulae Sex (Six Tables) which included high quality anatomical images.
• His work challenged existing Galenic ideas.

De Humani Corporis Fabrica (1543)

• A comprehensive seven-volume work, each volume with a different anatomical theme (e.g. muscle).
• It described the dissection process used to create the anatomical images.
• It was a landmark work.

The Anatomical Theatre

• The first temporary anatomical theatre was built in Padua in the 1300s.
• Vesalius' work led to the construction of permanent theatres at the University of Padua by 1594.
• Anatomical theatres spread throughout Europe, becoming places for both scientific work and entertainment.

Rembrandt's Anatomy Lesson

• A famous painting by Rembrandt, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1632).

La Specola Anatomical Collection

• An anatomical collection in Florence, Italy.

Medical Mistrust Towards Anatomy

• John Locke (1668) stated that anatomy's contributions were limited in improving human treatment; that anatomy provided limited information about cure or causes of illness.

19th-Century Advances

• Technology advances like percussion and auscultation allowed for internal diagnostics.
• Anatomy was integrated into medical schools but pathological anatomy was recognized as a topic.
• Limitations in dissection included a limited supply of bodies (body snatching) and cultural taboos.

Anatomy in Decline?

• Anatomy is taught in medical schools but isn't used for cutting-edge research as often.
• Now, some schools use computer software for dissection.
• There's debate about whether medical doctors need dissection to practice effectively.
• Yet, the public continues to retain interest in anatomy and dissection.

This quiz covers the fundamentals of anatomy, its history, and its interrelation with physiology. Learn about the structure of the body, key historical developments from ancient civilizations to recent times, and the role of art in the study of anatomy. Perfect for anyone interested in the biological sciences and the evolution of anatomical knowledge.