Renaissance: Vesalius, Paré, Harvey

Question 1

Why was Vesalius criticised?

Answer 1

Vesalius critiqued Galen

Question 2

What text did Vesalius write?

Answer 2

‘On the Fabric of the Human Body’

Question 3

Who wrote ‘On the Fabric of the Human Body’ and when was it published?

Answer 3

Vesalius - 1543

Question 4

How was ‘On the Fabric of the Human Body’ revolutionary?

Answer 4

Vesalius included very specific and detailed illustrations of individual organs

Question 5

Give 2 ways Vesalius’ impact was shown.

Answer 5

1. Popular in England
2. Italian printer Geminus published a text copying all of Vesalius’ illustrations and sold it as a manual for barber surgeons
3. Late 16th Century - many copies of OtFotHB came to England and it inspired many doctors

Question 6

What method was used to treat gunshot wounds before Paré?

Answer 6

Wounds burned using boiling oil - no anaesthetic

Question 8

How did Paré improve surgery for the patient?

Answer 8

Introduced a soothing cream - reduced pain and allowed wounds to heal quicker

Question 9

When did Paré publish his book and what did it contain?

Answer 9

Paré published a text in 1545 - about treating wounds in newer and better ways

Question 10

How did Paré improve on the work of Galen?

Answer 10

Ligatures to treat blood vessels - caused infection and speed was an issue — Paré designed crow’s beak clamp

Question 11

What did the crow’s beak clamp do?

Answer 11

Held blood vessel open; halted bleeding whilst ligature was tied

Question 12

What book did Paré publish?

Answer 12

Works on Surgery - Ambroise Paré

Question 13

How was Paré shown to be influential?

Answer 13

1. ‘Works on Surgery’ influenced William Clowes, surgeon to Queen Elizabeth I
2. Encouraged careful observation and for surgeons to question and experiment with new ideas

Question 14

What did Harvey study?

Answer 14

The heart - blood circulation

Question 15

How did Harvey study the heart?

Answer 15

1. 1616 - dissections of human hearts
2. Observed animal hearts to understand how muscles worked

Question 16

What experiment did Harvey do?

Answer 16

Pumped liquid the wrong way through the heart - proved blood could only circulate one way

Question 17

What text did Harvey publish and when?

Answer 17

Harvey: ‘De Motu Cordis’ - 1628

Question 18

Why were Harvey’s findings not immediately useful?

Answer 18

1. Criticised or ignored
2. He did not fully understand his findings, further investigation was needed

Question 19

How was Harvey influential in the long term?

Answer 19

Understanding blood circulation is very important in many life-saving surgeries, diagnoses, treatments, etc