Human Anatomy

History of Anatomy

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karim Al-Jashamy

October 2009

Early GreeksGreeks explained illness in terms of the

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

by air, water, fire, and earth Healthy person had all four humors in

balance.

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

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

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

Early Greek physician Believed that illness had

a physical cause Rejected superstitions Based medical

treatments on observations

Hippocrates (460 to 379 BC)

Role of Religion

Many religions influenced the study of the body.

Against doctrine to dissect a human.

Claudius Galen (120 to 200)

Roman physician, “team doctor” for the gladiators.

Kept them alive so they could fight again.

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

His mistake was to assume that humans and animals were identical internally.

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

Early anatomical

drawing based on

misinformation.

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 to 1519)

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

Da Vinci made hundreds of anatomically correct drawings.

He dissected bodies in secret.

Andreas Vesalius (1514 to 1564)

Barber surgeon (combination barber, dentist, doctor).

Got special permission from the Pope to dissect criminals.

First scientist to understand human anatomy.

Wrote the first accurate book on human anatomy.

Shortage of cadavers In England and Scotland, medical

schools began to open. No one donated bodies to science –

churchgoers believed in literal rising from grave, so dissection spoiled chances of resurrection.

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

Serious Crimes

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

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

hung and dissected Anatomists were often associated

with executioners.

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

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

William Harvey (English) Circa 1590

“Father of Anatomy”; studied circulatory system

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

Grave Robbing

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

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

Anatomical Implementation branches

1. Gross Anatomy2. Histological Anatomy3. Applied Anatomy (surgical

Anatomy)4. Clinical Anatomy5. Forensic (Forensic Pathology)

Tools usedThe following are tools commonly used in biological

dissection.Scalpel Scissors

Thumb Forceps or Fine point splinter

Surgical Spatula Magnifying glass

Razor

Blow Pipe (surgical)

Pipette or Medicine dropper Ruler or caliper

T pins Dissecting Pan