Renaissance Medicine | Anatomy
In the understanding of anatomy the Renaissance was a huge turning point.
Vesalius stole bodies from fresh graves and from the gallows, and he dissected them carefully. He even held public exhibitions, and live dissections so others could learn from his technique and witness his findings. He was careful to encourage discussion of these new ideas and close observation of the new discoveries.
Vesalius published his massive work Fabric of the Human Body complete with labelled illustrations by the artist Da Vinci. The printing press made this book into a popular bestseller and spread Vesalius’ ideas about anatomy quickly – and with it the evidence that Galen was WRONG!!
Harvey also wrote a book proving Galen to be wrong. Inspired by newly invented pumps he demonstrated how blood flowed around the body. It was not used up and it did not flow through the septum as Galen had claimed.
Dissection had been permitted due to the Reformation and the Church’s relaxation of the rules.
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