Five Examples Illustrating the Study of Form and Function

Abstract

Observations of form, in humans and other animals, began in prehistoric times and must have been associated, often or always, with speculations about living activ? ities and perhaps about life itself. Such associations seem to east light on the careful representation of the body and limbs, and especially of the heart, in the cave paintings of Paleolithic times. Knowledge of anatomy and primitive ideas about illness and healing?the lore of function applied?were definitely formulated in ancient times and codified by Greek and other early scholars including Aristotle, Hippocrates, and Galen. And it is true today, as well, that even the most uninformed person has sometimes made obser? vations on, and felt concern about the structure and function of his or her body. Form and function, then, are areas of deep and intrinsic interest to people. The powerful methods of science have extended our