The Art of Anatomy

Anatomy is concerned with the identification and description of the parts of the human body. Dissection, the cutting up of a human corpse, is the basis of all anatomical research.

Though practised by the ancient Greeks, dissection did not become part of accepted medical research until the 16th century. During the Middle Ages, anatomy was based on a sprinkling of facts derived from Greek sources and a large amount of guesswork. The period known as the Renaissance saw an increase in interest in art and science. Traditional theories were challenged and doctors looked for a better understanding of the workings of the body. By the early 1500s dissections were increasingly being carried out in medical universities around Europe. Anatomy would soon become central to medical understanding.

Using illustrations from books and manuscripts produced at the time, this website gives a background to how the study of anatomy changed during the Renaissance. It describes how the body was viewed in the Middle Ages and how the Renaissance influenced the study of anatomy. It illustrates how the work of Andreas Vesalius in the early 1500s not only updated anatomy but, through its basis on observation, experiment and demonstration, also changed the way science as a whole was practised. It also highlights Vesalius’ monumental book On the Fabric of the Human Body , which was not only the first comprehensive anatomical textbook but also a brilliant and meticulously illustrated work of art.

An external link to a digital version of the complete illustrated text of Vesalius' On the Fabric of the Human Body (from the website of the National Library of Medicine) can be found HERE.

Use the information on this page to answer the following question:

• What is anatomy?