Surgery and Anatomy
Ancient World c10,000 BC
- c500 AD
Prehistoric
Stitch up
wounds
Set broken bones by encasing them in mud
Trephining
Basic knowledge
of bone structure
from burial rituals
Religion
Ancient Egypt
Knowledge of
the main bones
and organs from
mummification
Religion
Did not know
what each part
did - the parts
were not
studied as it was
a religious ritual
Religion
Simple,
external
surgery
Reset dislocated joints
Mend broken bones
Were excellent at bandaging
Used herbal anaesthetics
Stronger, sharper
bronze surgical
equipment
improved
metal-working
skills by
developing
the making of
weapons etc
War
Ancient
Greece
Greek doctors in Alexandria and
Egypt started to dissect bodies
as philosophers such as Aristotle
and Plato decided that the body
was not needed in the afterlife
Attitude of enquiry
Individuals
Herophilus discovered that it was the
brain, not the heart that controls the
movement of limbs through vivisection
Attitude of enquiry
Individuals
Erasistratus discovered that
blood moved through the veins
Attitude of enquiry
Individuals
Simple external surgery
Setting broken and dislocated bones
War
Herbal
antispectics
Opium, alcohol and wine to stop infection
'Praiseworthy pus'
believd pus carried
away poisoned blood
that caused infection
covered in
ointment and
bandages to
create pus
Roman Empire
It was forbidden to dissect
humans so anatomists, such as
Galen, had to dissect animals to
learn about the human body
This lead to Galen making mistakes like
thinking that the human jaw-bone was
made up of two bones, like a dog's.
Religion
Galen's books
show a good
knowledge of
bone structure.
He also studied
the lungs, the
muscles, the
heart and blood
and the
nervous system
Individuals
Discovers that the brain and
not the heart controls the body
Simple external surgery
Removing polyps up the nose
Removing goitres from the neck
New surgical and midwifery
instruments were developed