History of Science 2220 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Herophilos, Fourth Ventricle, Erasistratus

• School: Western University
• Department: History of Science
• Course: History of Science 2220
• Professor: Dorotea Gucciardo

Document Summary

The discovery of the body: human dissection and its cultural contexts in ancient greece. Herophilus and his younger contemporary erasistratus of ceos = first and last ancient scientists to perform systematic dissections of human cadavers. Big moment in history of science = revolutionary introduction of systematic human dissection and experimentation on condemned criminals. First but also last time in roughly thousand years that human remains were systematically dissected. In the 14th century human dissection resumed. By dissecting human cadavers, herophilus succeeded in distinguishing between the ventricles of the brain and recognizing physiological significance of the fourth ventricle. He discovered the nerves provided a description of at least 6 pairs of cranial nerves and distinguished between sensory and motor nerves. He differentiated between at least 4 coats or membranes of the eye cornea, retina, choroid. Provided first accurate description of the human liver, first investigation of pancreas and description of male and female reproductive parts.