Week 9: Antenatal Life / Ancient Embryology Flashcards
Embryological studies of the Hippocratic corpus
a) De semine - Seed
b) De septimestri partu - 7-month birth
c) De octimestri partu - 8-month birth
d) De superfetatione - Superfetation
e) De exsectione foetus - Removing dead foetus
What month is not viable for pregnancy
Eight month due to popular belief
What is superfetation? What event leaded physicians to believe on this?
Getting pregnant a second time while being already pregnant.
Fraternal twins
Common in animals (e.g., rabbits)
Embryological studies of Galen
a) De uteri dissectione
b) De semine
c) De foetum formatione
d) De septimestri partu
e) An animal ist quod est in utero - Is the born foetus a human being?
f) Ad Gaurum quo modo animatur foetus
Most famous work from Soranus
Gynaecia
What does the seed (semen) of the man represent?
a) Strongest and richest fluid coming from all fluids in the entire body
b) Rubbing and heating are needed
How can a man get a male or female child based on De Superfetatione?
a) Tying the right testicle - Female
b) Tying the left testicle - Male
Description of the analogy of conception with plants
Seed deposited into the earth filled with moisture from it
Description of the analogy with rising bread
A membrane develops arount the surface of the seed while the spirit is coming in and going out of the center
Description of the analogy with chickens
When the hatchling runs out of food inside the egg, it moves a lot inside the egg looking for more food, and the shell breaks. This happens by the 10th month.
Uterus of animals
Those with higher birth right tend to have more bends and recesses that those with lower birth rate
Important days for embryology
a) 1st / 7th day (Moon calendar)
b) Watching odd days
c) 14th, 28th, 42nd day
On what day do humans show legs and arms?
49th day
Can you trust women on childbirth?
No mistrust since they know what is happening in their own bodies
What revolutionary research did Hippocrates did for embryology?
Wrote some truthful facts about the formation of the embrya by hands-on diagnosis
What were the consequences of an affair in ancient Greece?
a) Mandatory divorce
b) Exclusion to public life (Temples)
According to ancient physicians, who contributed the genetic material to the child?
Although ancient societies were patriarchal, both parents contributed to the genetic material of the offspring.
What popular belief outside of medical literature existed about the contribution of genetic material?
The mother was only the incubator for the man’s seed, and she made no contribution to the child.
AKA: Metaphor of the oven / bun
Was ancient medicine androcentric?
No. Gender neutral unless there is a practical need to differentiate
How was medical knowledge gained in terms of sampling?
Mostly from the study of male bodies
Is gendered medicine still a controversial subject?
Yes
What knowledge was fully understood in ancient medicine?
a) Anatomy and physiology
b) Genetic process was misunderstood
What understandings did ancient physicians have about the genetic process of inheritance?
a) Semen transmits the father’s genetic material
b) Role of the male reproductive organs
c) Damage fo the testes results in infertility
What is the perception of castration by the Greeks?
Barbaric custom and never practiced
a) Persians considered it
How was the understanding of female anatomy in ancient medicine?
Not as good in the 5thC but improved
What were the beliefs of ancient physicians about the uterus?
a) It holds new life
b) Similarity to the one of a horse
c) Moving around the body, so it was attracted or repelled through fumigations
What was the domain of the midwife?
Obstetrics/Gynaecology
When were male physicians called?
When complications arose
Who was the most famous expert in gynaecology?
Soranus
How is conception perceived On the Seed?
a) Movement during intercourse produces heat.
b) Heat makes the blood foam
c) Foam spills out during ejaculation
d) Inside the womb it mixes with the female seed
What was the belief about menses in ancient medicine?
a) Needed to flow freely for the body to be healthy
b) Retention causes health complications (black bile)
According to ancient medicine, why is virginity/abstinence harmful to the body of the woman?
Having sex to create the openings to remove menses.
What was the Greek custom for marriage and sex?
Early marriage of girls around 14 years old
Boys stopped going to school at 14 and could marry until 18
When is childbirth recommended by medical practitioners in Greece?
Once the body is fully formed (around 18). Plato recommendes between 20-40
What methods were used to acquire knowledge about embryo growth?
a) Experiences of mothers (Quickening)
b) Abortions/Miscarriages (Stages of fetal development)
c) Mathematical models (Mother experience / Stage of gestation)
What were the reasons behind performing an abortion?
a) Infidelity
=> Husband absent at war
=> Interracial affair
b) Premarital sex
c) Extramarital sex
d) Sex workers (Degrading their value)
e) Too many children (Dilemma of Kallirhoe)
f) Unsuitable circumstances for childbirth
What practices were common for midwives?
Childbirth
Fetus being in the wrong position during birth
How were tools used before and after the time of Soranus?
a) Prior: Cut the umbilical cord with glass
b) After: Use sterilized steel instruments
What practices were recommended for the baby that are still used today by Soranus?
a) Swaddling
b) Care of mother and baby after birth
According to ancient physicians, when was human identity attributed to the fetus?
a) After limbs were discernible and had a human appearance (49)
b) Animated at birth when the psyche enters
c) Animated at conception
When did the view of animation at conception became more dominant?
Later antiquity by Christian authors
Why was there a decisive negative attitude towards abortion?
Desire of Roman emperors to encourage higher birth rates among the ruling elite of the empire
Methods of abortion
a) Chemical (
=> Certain efficiency but could kill the mother
b) Mechanical (Doubtful efficacy)
=> Intense leaps, weights
c) Surgical (Effective | Painful/Dangerous)
=> Sharp instruments
d) Magic/Superstition (Ineffective)
Timeline on attitudes to abortion
Hippocratic medicine
=> Accepted
Later antiquity (after 1stC)
=> Hostilility towards abortion became more vocal and widespread
206/207 AD
=> There is a prohibition if it happens without the consent of the husband
Early Christian authors are divided as pagan authors are
From the 4th C (St. Basil of Caesarea), hostile attitudes prevail.
Qualities and training of the ideal midwife
a) Literate
b) Good memory
c) Perseverance through all vicissitudes
d) Respectable
e) No handicapped / Robust
f) Long/Slim fingers/Short nails
g) Trained in all branches of therapy
h) No changing her methods when the symptoms change
i) Well-disciplined and always sober
k) Not greedy
