How Dissection Influenced Modern Medicine

by griffd85 (student)

Daniel Griffin, 1st April, 2012

The publication of Vesalius’ ‘On the fabric of the human body’ in 1543, virtually created the study of human anatomy. This enlightening piece subsequently set off a chain reaction for countless other anatomical discoveries and is widely recognised as one of the main contributors to the commencement of the ‘scientific revolution’.

Revealed throughout in the book, for the first time ever, were accurate drawings of the muscular, skeletal, respiratory, circulatory, vascular, and nervous systems. Also featured were illustrations of the heart, the brain, and abdominal organs. Never before had the body been so comprehensively documented layer by layer in such rigorous detail. Up until these discoveries all of our knowledge on human anatomy was drawn from superstition, religious philosophy, and animal dissections carried out by Greek physician Galen. Vesalius’ findings directly contradicted these theories and ideas, and by conducting his own dissections on human corpses in public, educational and religious institutions had to reluctantly accept that his conclusions were correct.

Above: Vesalius performing a public dissection. (Vesalius, A. 1555).

Vesalius’ ‘’ increased interest in the practice of dissection and fascinated physicians into unlocking the remaining mysteries of the human body. One example of this is the monumental ‘circulation of blood’ theory founded by an inspired William Harvey in 1628. Harvey carried out numerous dissections on animals and humans. It was due to his diligent study of anatomy that he identified the heart was responsible for pumping blood around the body and that blood needed to be preserved rather than ‘let’ as previously taught by Galen. These insights eventually led ...

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Above: Vesalius performing a public dissection. (Vesalius, A. 1555).

Over time, the progressive practice of dissection has eradicated uncertainty and superstition surrounding the human body. From the 18th century onwards, the study of anatomy has been embraced and taught by educational institutions worldwide, transforming people’s view of the body into something that can be explained in terms of mechanics, biology, and chemistry. Without the early dissections conducted and publicised by Vesalius and others, it is likely that there may be none of the surgical practices and modern medicines that we recognise and take for granted today.

Bibliography

Online:

BBC (2009). Vesalius, Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery. Retrieved 14th March, 2012, from

BBC. (2012). Andreas Vesalius. [Online video]. Retrieved 1st April, 2012, from

BBC. (2012). William Harvey (1578 - 1657). Retrieved 1st April, 2012, from

Science Museum. William Harvey (1578 - 1657). Retrieved 1st April, 2012, from

Science World (2007). William Harvey (1578 - 1657). Retrieved 1st April, 2012, from

Vesalius, A. (1555). Public dissection, [Online image], De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septum.

Retrieved 1st April, 2012, from

Other:

Handwritten notes from Health Studies lesson 14th March 2012.

Handwritten notes from Health Studies lesson 21st March 2012.

History of Dissection. (PowerPoint hand-out from Health Studies lesson 14th March 2012).

Illustrations of public dissections. (A4 hand-out from Health Studies lesson 21st March 2012).

Picture of William Harvey & the blood circulation theory. (A4 hand-out from Health Studies lesson 14thMarch

2012).

Vesalius’ drawing of the human body. (A4 hand-out from Health Studies lesson 14th March 2012).

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