European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 18 - Number 2
Eur J Anat, 18 (2): 63-67 (2014)

The origin of anatomy museums

Venkatesh G. Kamath1, Biswabeena Ray2, Shakuntala R. Pai3 and Ramakrishna Avadhani1

1Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore, India, 2Department of Anatomy, A.I.I.M.S, Bhopal, India and 3Department of Anatomy, Srinivas Medical College, Mangalore, India

ABSTRACT The following article aims to review the contribution of anatomy museums to the development of anatomical science and to the understanding of human anatomy. We also describe the development of anatomical science since the thirteenth century, when artistic sketches and models were used by anatomists to demonstrate anatomical structures, due to religious and ethical issues preventing cadaveric dissection. These were prevalent at a time when there was a lot of inquisitiveness to know more about human anatomy. The origin of the concept of the anatomy museum and its evolution to contemporary anatomy museums are also discussed.

Keywords: Mouseion, Wax models, Grave robbery, Anatomy laws, Notomies, Cabinet of curiosities, Tabulae pictae

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)