Week 9: Antenatal Life / Ancient Embryology

Question 1

Embryological studies of the Hippocratic corpus

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What month is not viable for pregnancy

Answer 2

Eight month due to popular belief

Question 3

What is superfetation? What event leaded physicians to believe on this?

Answer 3

Getting pregnant a second time while being already pregnant.
Fraternal twins
Common in animals (e.g., rabbits)

Question 4

Embryological studies of Galen

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Most famous work from Soranus

Answer 5

Gynaecia

Question 6

What does the seed (semen) of the man represent?

Answer 6

a) Strongest and richest fluid coming from all fluids in the entire body
b) Rubbing and heating are needed

Question 7

How can a man get a male or female child based on De Superfetatione?

Answer 7

a) Tying the right testicle - Female
b) Tying the left testicle - Male

Question 8

Description of the analogy of conception with plants

Answer 8

Seed deposited into the earth filled with moisture from it

Question 9

Description of the analogy with rising bread

Answer 9

A membrane develops arount the surface of the seed while the spirit is coming in and going out of the center

Question 10

Description of the analogy with chickens

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Uterus of animals

Answer 11

Those with higher birth right tend to have more bends and recesses that those with lower birth rate

Question 12

Important days for embryology

Answer 12

a) 1st / 7th day (Moon calendar)
b) Watching odd days
c) 14th, 28th, 42nd day

Question 13

On what day do humans show legs and arms?

Answer 13

49th day

Question 14

Can you trust women on childbirth?

Answer 14

No mistrust since they know what is happening in their own bodies

Question 15

What revolutionary research did Hippocrates did for embryology?

Answer 15

Wrote some truthful facts about the formation of the embrya by hands-on diagnosis

Question 16

What were the consequences of an affair in ancient Greece?

Answer 16

a) Mandatory divorce
b) Exclusion to public life (Temples)

Question 17

According to ancient physicians, who contributed the genetic material to the child?

Answer 17

Although ancient societies were patriarchal, both parents contributed to the genetic material of the offspring.

Question 18

What popular belief outside of medical literature existed about the contribution of genetic material?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Was ancient medicine androcentric?

Answer 19

No. Gender neutral unless there is a practical need to differentiate

Question 20

How was medical knowledge gained in terms of sampling?

Answer 20

Mostly from the study of male bodies

Question 21

Is gendered medicine still a controversial subject?

Answer 21

Yes

Question 22

What knowledge was fully understood in ancient medicine?

Answer 22

a) Anatomy and physiology
b) Genetic process was misunderstood

Question 23

What understandings did ancient physicians have about the genetic process of inheritance?

Answer 23

a) Semen transmits the father’s genetic material
b) Role of the male reproductive organs
c) Damage fo the testes results in infertility

Question 24

What is the perception of castration by the Greeks?

Answer 24

Barbaric custom and never practiced
a) Persians considered it

Question 25

How was the understanding of female anatomy in ancient medicine?

Answer 25

Not as good in the 5thC but improved

Question 26

What were the beliefs of ancient physicians about the uterus?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

What was the domain of the midwife?

Answer 27

Obstetrics/Gynaecology

Question 28

When were male physicians called?

Answer 28

When complications arose

Question 29

Who was the most famous expert in gynaecology?

Answer 29

Soranus

Question 30

How is conception perceived On the Seed?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

What was the belief about menses in ancient medicine?

Answer 31

a) Needed to flow freely for the body to be healthy b) Retention causes health complications (black bile)

Question 32

According to ancient medicine, why is virginity/abstinence harmful to the body of the woman?

Answer 32

Having sex to create the openings to remove menses.

Question 33

What was the Greek custom for marriage and sex?

Answer 33

Early marriage of girls around 14 years old Boys stopped going to school at 14 and could marry until 18

Question 34

When is childbirth recommended by medical practitioners in Greece?

Answer 34

Once the body is fully formed (around 18). Plato recommendes between 20-40

Question 35

What methods were used to acquire knowledge about embryo growth?

Answer 35

a) Experiences of mothers (Quickening) b) Abortions/Miscarriages (Stages of fetal development) c) Mathematical models (Mother experience / Stage of gestation)

Question 36

What were the reasons behind performing an abortion?

Answer 36

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

Question 37

What practices were common for midwives?

Answer 37

Childbirth Fetus being in the wrong position during birth

Question 38

How were tools used before and after the time of Soranus?

Answer 38

a) Prior: Cut the umbilical cord with glass b) After: Use sterilized steel instruments

Question 39

What practices were recommended for the baby that are still used today by Soranus?

Answer 39

a) Swaddling b) Care of mother and baby after birth

Question 40

According to ancient physicians, when was human identity attributed to the fetus?

Answer 40

a) After limbs were discernible and had a human appearance (49) b) Animated at birth when the psyche enters c) Animated at conception

Question 41

When did the view of animation at conception became more dominant?

Answer 41

Later antiquity by Christian authors

Question 42

Why was there a decisive negative attitude towards abortion?

Answer 42

Desire of Roman emperors to encourage higher birth rates among the ruling elite of the empire

Question 43

Methods of abortion

Answer 43

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)

Question 44

Timeline on attitudes to abortion

Answer 44

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.

Question 45

Qualities and training of the ideal midwife

Answer 45

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