Anatomy History - A Timeline

As Early As Stone Age

 Early evidences of the study of anatomy date back as early as the Stone Age. Cave
paintings were made (about 30,000 years ago) depicting simple knowledge of the
anatomy of animals. It is assumed that these cave dwellers utilized some of their
anatomical understanding to their own bodies[3].

Around 5th Century B.C.E

 The systematic study of anatomy was started by Greek scientists Alcmaeon and
Empedocles. Alcmaeon was the first person to perform human body dissection and
first to propose that the brain is the center of intelligence. Empedocles, on the other
 hand, coined the word “pneuma” to which he believed is the “life and soul” flowing
through the blood vessels[3].

 Hippocrates was hailed as the “Father of Medicine”. He gathered data and

conducted experiments to show that disease was a natural process. He also showed
that the symptoms of a disease were caused by the natural reactions of the body to
the disease process[4].

 Aristotle was hailed as the “Father of Comparative Anatomy and Physiology”.

However, being more of a philosopher than a physician, he believed that the brain
cooled the heart by secreting “phlegm”, and that the arteries contained only air.
Future discoveries debunked this theory of Aristotle.

During 3rd Century B.C.E

 In Alexandria, Erasistratus and Herophilus made the first scientific studies designed
to discover the workings of human anatomy as they were the first to practice
human vivisection or the dissection of convicted criminals.[11]

During 200 A.D

 Galen’s knowledge about anatomy greatly improved from his experience of by
treating wounded gladiators. His contributions in the field include the discovery that
arteries carry liquid blood rather than gaseous air as formerly thought, identification
of the of 7 of the 12 cranial nerves , evidence that urine is formed in the kidney, not
in the bladder, and the successful removal of cataract from a patient’s eye. [5]

From 8th Century to 14th Century

 The search for new knowledge became

temporarily stagnant.
 The prevailing mood during these periods were not conducive for scientific study and
discovery as it centered much on the Christian principles that God knows best, and
soHe should – since He created everything.[6]

During the 15th Century

 

Leonardo da Vincimade crude sketches showing various parts of the human body.
Such were sketches of the eye, optic nerves, and the brain. He also made a very
close picture of an unborn baby in the womb with the correct attachment by the
umbilical cord.

 This period marked the “rebirth” of an empirical study of anatomy. Andreas

Vesaliuswrote the “De humani corporis fabrica” (On the Structure of the Human
Body) which challenged traditional knowledge of human anatomy. This book was
the first accurate description of the interior of the human body.
 Vesalius’ contribution was instrumental in overcoming the authority of the Catholic
church. For the first time, anatomy was viewed objectively and the inaccuracies in
some of Galen’s theorieswere exposed. Unfortunately, Vesalius’s ideas were
originally criticized by scientists and anatomists because they challenged Galen’s
and others.
 Because of his contributions, Vesalius became the “Father of Modern Anatomy“
 William Harvey wrote Exercitatio anatomica de motu cordis et sanguinisin animalibus
(translated as Anatomical Exercises on the Motion of the Heart and Blood in
Animalsby Dr. A. Bowie). In this work, he described the circulation of the blood.[7]

Mid-17th Century

 The study of human anatomy vastly improved with the

invention of the compound microscope by Robert Hooke.[9]The viewing of cell
structures and physiological processes were no longer limited to the naked eye.

During the 18th Century

 Dissection became a recognized punishment, a
fate worse than death to be added to hanging for the worst criminals. The
dissections performed on hanged bodies were public. Part of the punishment
includes the delivery of the criminal to the surgeons at the scaffolds before public
execution. A public exhibition of the open body will then follow. [8]
 Sir Henry Gray published his book “Anatomy Descriptive and Surgical”, a book that
revealed the depths of human anatomy to the world. At present, his book which is
more commonly known as “Gray’s Anatomy” is still the basis for most medical
students.

During the early 19th Century

 The study of anatomy of humans and
animals further improved with the advancement of histology and developmental
biology.
 The idea of “anatomy theatre” arose. This permitted the observation of dissection
performed in “theatres” by everyone regardless of their gender and class in society.
 However, dissection was not allowed to be performed by women, along with the
increasing fessionalization of medicine.[10]

Then comes the 20th Century

 The further advances in radiological

techniques in the twentieth century have permitted researchers to make remarkable
connections between anatomy and physiology. This also have allowed them to
integrate and relate the study of anatomy with other disciplines, such
as genetics, biochemistry, and biophysics.
 Going far beyond microscopy and x-rays, the easy access to advanced technology
such as PET and CAT scanners, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) permit
 physicians and scientists to have a glimpse of what is inside the body without
performing surgery or even dissection.

Top 15 Anatomy & Physiology News In Innovations &

Breakthroughs For 2017
There were several advancements, breakthroughs, and innovations in several fields of
biology in 2017. In this article, let's glance over the top 15 anatomy and physiology related
breakthroughs in 2017.
References
[1]– Persaud, T.V.N. 2016. In the Beginning: Human AnatomyAccessed
July 2016
[2]– Sidhu, Rajinder. 2012. The Study of Human Anatomy.Accessed July

20, 2016.
[3]– Carola, Robert. 1992. A Short History of Human Anatomy.

[4]– David, K. and Osborn, L. 2015. Hippocrates: Father of

Medicine.Accessed July 20, 2016.

[5]– n.a 2014. “Galen.” Famous Scientists. famousscientists.org. 22 Dec.

2014.
[6]– n.a.2016. HistoryofAnatomy 2016.

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid
=aa05
[7]– n.a. 2007. “History of anatomy and physiology: The Renaissance and

Age of Enlightenment.” World of Anatomy and Physiology, June 15.

[8]– Johnson, D. (2016). Introductory Anatomy. Accessed July 20, 2016.

[9]– Robert Hooke – 1635-1703 – Hooke’s Microscope

[10]– Cynthia Klestinec – Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied

Sciences, Volume 59, Number 3, July 2004, pp. 375-412
[11]– Noel Si-Yang Bay and Boon-Huat Bay – 2010 Greek anatomist

herophilus: the father of anatomyAccessed on July 2016.

Cite this article as: "History of Anatomy," in Bio Explorerby Jack Kirsten, July
24, 2016, https://www.bioexplorer.net/history_of_biology/anatomy/.

Read More https://www.bioexplorer.net/history_of_biology/anatomy/