Anatomical Discoveries During the Renaissance Period

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Recommended: Renaissance 1485-1660 medicine

More medical discoveries and advances are occurring every day. Medical treatments and understanding of the human anatomy have come a long way. Though if it weren’t for certain Anatomists, we may have not have had the right comprehension of the human body which could have led to errors in surgery and more deaths while treating patients. The Renaissance period was a time where Anatomists searched for clearer understanding of the human body. During the Renaissance period, Anatomists questioning and experimentation led to great discoveries of the human body.
Wrong theories of the anatomy have been assumed to be correct for thousands of years. Theories of using a scientific base were not used by the Europeans until the Renaissance period (“Medicine”). These theories, made by a Greek Physician named Galen, were supported by the Catholic Church. The Middle Ages were a difficult time to achieve medical advances because Galen’s theories were not to be questioned or tested(“The Impact of the Renaissance on Medicine”).Even after these theories appeared to be inaccurate, the support from such a high authority made it extremely difficult to change the medical practices and training(“Rennaissance medicine”).
The knowledge of medicine grew drastically during the Renaissance period (Siralisi 189). Research conducted during the Renaissance period by Andreas Vesalius, Matteo Realdo Colombo, Geronimo Fabrious, Ambroise Pare, and William Harvey has given us a better understanding of the human anatomy ("Renaissance medicine"). Once the Renaissance period hit, anatomists were able to work through the scientific method and find the flaws in Galen’s theories(“The Impact of the Renaissance on Medicine”).
A vital advance made during the Renaissance per...

... middle of paper ...

...ways to clean and heal wounds. He realized the importance of cleaning the wounds. He also designed prosthetic limbs and the truss, which is designed to keep hernias from growing ( “Medicine”).

Works Cited

Siraisi, Nancy G. Medieval and early Renaissance medicine: an introduction to knowledge and practice. University of Chicago Press, 2009.

"Renaissance medicine." Hutchinson Encyclopedia. 2011. eLibrary. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.

"medicine." Compton's by Britannica, v 6.0. 2009. eLibrary. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.

About William Harvey (Harvey Medical Research Foundation). eLibrary. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.

"The Impact of the Renaissance on Medicine." Hutchinson Encyclopedia. 2011. eLibrary. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.

"Colombo, Matteo Realdo." Hutchinson Encyclopedia. 2011. eLibrary. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.

"Fabricius, Hieronymus." Hutchinson Encyclopedia. 2011. eLibrary. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.

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