Herophilus Of Chalcedon Research Articles

Herophilus on the (in)visibility of respiration

Herophilus of Chalcedon’s paramount advancements in the fields of anatomy and physiology are hailed as revolutionary not only in regard to their content, but also in regard to the methodology that made them possible. Concerning this latter point, later sources concur in attributing to Herophilus the use of human dissection (and possibly even of vivisection) for research purposes, an unprecedented practice that seems to have been abandoned and then systematically retrieved only in the sixteenth century by Leonardo da Vinci and Vesalius. Herophilus’ audacity in the field of anatomical inquiry was nevertheless accompanied by a rather cautious approach to aetiology. “Let the appearances be described first, even though they are not primary” (An. Lond., XXI., 22-3): the medical practitioner must rely on what is visible, even though what is visible is not necessarily sufficient to an exhaustive comprehension of physiological phenomena, nor is it always at one’s disposal. Such a tension between the visible and the invisible, the perceptible and the imperceptible, lies at the very basis of Herophilus’ inquiry of the human body, extraordinarily lucid in defining its own limits. Through this article I propose to focus on the particular case of respiration, subject of the chapter of the Aëtian Placita known under the title Περὶ ἀναπνοῆς, as an example of the Herophilean reflection about the theoretic observability of phenomena that, far from being marginal or occasional, deserves to be recognised as a fundamental part of his epistemology.

Quarantine, Brain, and Health

Since Herophilus of Chalcedon (a.335) studied the brain and considered it the center of the nervous system, all the cognitive, psychological, emotional, and individual behavior processes of the human being have been linked to the brain, which has developed until our days the current neuropsychology. This helps us to explain the changes in the neurological functioning of our brain in situations such as social isolation and sensory deprivation.

Herophilus of Chalcedon (ca. 330-250 BC) and ocular anatomy. A review

Herophilus of Chalcedon (ca. 330-250 BC) was considered as one of the most important figures of anatomy during the antiquity. Apart from his other works in anatomy very important are also his observations in ocular anatomy. He discovered first the optic nerve and described four tunics in the eye.

The Ancient Greek discovery of the nervous system: Alcmaeon, Praxagoras and Herophilus

The aim of this historical overview is to show that the theories of Alcmaeon of Croton formed an important part of a developing conception of the brain and the nervous system. The vital contributions of Praxagoras of Kos, who suggested the existence of what we now call “neurons”, and Herophilus of Chalcedon, who distinguished between sensory and motor nerves and demonstrated the existence of the nervous system by dissection, also established the foundation principles of neuroscience, but their importance is sometimes forgotten. We trace the discovery of the nervous system through an investigation of these three thinkers. Combining astounding philosophical concepts with sharp observation, they conceived and demonstrated the existence of a nervous system by the third century BCE. This discovery is central not only to neuroscience, but also to all of medicine and to our concept of the human organism: it articulated the connection between the mind, the brain, and the body.

The Ancient Greek Discovery of the Nervous System: Alcmaeon, Praxagoras and Herophilus

This paper shows that Alcmaeon and his theories were an important part of a developing conception of the brain and the nervous system. The vital contributions of Praxagoras of Kos, who suggested the existence of what we now call “neurons”, and Herophilus of Chalcedon, who distinguished between sensory and motor nerves and proved the existence of the nervous system by dissection, also established the foundation principles of neuroscience – though their role is sometimes forgotten. In this essay we trace the discovery of the nervous system through the investigations of these three thinkers. Combining astounding philosophical concepts with sharp observation, they conceived and demonstrated the existence of a nervous system by the 3rd Century BC. This discovery is central not only to neuroscience, but also to all of medicine and to our concept of the human organism; for it revealed the connection between the intelligent mind, the brain, and the body.

CAUSING DOUBTS: DIODORUS CRONUS AND HEROPHILUS OF CHALCEDON ON CAUSALITY

The physician Herophilus of Chalcedon, who lived and worked in Alexandria in the early third centuryb.c., is best known and justly celebrated for his numerous and ground-breaking anatomical discoveries and advances in such areas as pulse theory. His systematic investigations into the human body led to some of the highest achievements of Hellenistic science, among which the best known is probably his discovery and detailed description of the nervous system and its functions. Yet certain aspects of his thought have seemed difficult to harmonize with the aims and methods of his medical research. One such is his attitude to causality. According to Galen, Herophilus had accepted the existence of causes merely on a hypothetical basis, and indeed had made the striking claim that ‘by nature it is not discoverable whether causes do or do not exist’. Galen associates these views directly with a number of arguments designed to prove that there are no such things as causes, but we are otherwise left with little in the way of context, and different interpretations have unsurprisingly suggested themselves.

Jacques Guillemeau’s 16th-Century Account of Ophthalmoplegia

In 1585, the renowned French royal surgeon Jacques Guillemeau published his Traité des maladies de l'oeil. The book is divided into 9 unequal sections devoted to the description of eye anatomy and ophthalmological diseases including muscle, membrane, and humor disorders; optic nerve damage; and eyelid affections. Section 3, in particular, focuses on a form of ophthalmoplegia involving progressive paralysis of extraocular muscles. Here we describe and discuss Guillemeau's theoretical framework and practical approach to this ophthalmological disorder. To determine whether this physician was possibly influenced by the thought of antique and contemporary learned men, we reviewed some fundamental ideas on cranial nerves and their paralysis as presented by authors such as Herophilus of Chalcedon, Erasistratus of Ceos, Claudius Galen, Andreas Vesalius, and Leonhard Fuchs.

The journey of discovering skull base anatomy in ancient Egypt and the special influence of Alexandria

The field of anatomy, one of the most ancient sciences, first evolved in Egypt. From the Early Dynastic Period (3100 BC) until the time of Galen at the end of the 2nd century ad, Egypt was the center of anatomical knowledge, including neuroanatomy. Knowledge of neuroanatomy first became important so that sacred rituals could be performed by ancient Egyptian embalmers during mummification procedures. Later, neuroanatomy became a science to be studied by wise men at the ancient temple of Memphis. As religious conflicts developed, the study of the human body became restricted. Myths started to replace scientific research, squelching further exploration of the human body until Alexander the Great founded the city of Alexandria. This period witnessed a revolution in the study of anatomy and functional anatomy. Herophilus of Chalcedon, Erasistratus of Chios, Rufus of Ephesus, and Galen of Pergamon were prominent physicians who studied at the medical school of Alexandria and contributed greatly to knowledge about the anatomy of the skull base. After the Royal Library of Alexandria was burned and laws were passed prohibiting human dissections based on religious and cultural factors, knowledge of human skull base anatomy plateaued for almost 1500 years. In this article the authors consider the beginning of this journey, from the earliest descriptions of skull base anatomy to the establishment of basic skull base anatomy in ancient Egypt.

Herophilus of Chalcedon: A Pioneer in Neuroscience

Herophilus of Chalcedon: A Pioneer in Neuroscience

Herophilus of Chalcedon: A Pioneer in Neuroscience

Herophilus of Chalcedon: A Pioneer in Neuroscience

Herophilus of Chalcedon: A Pioneer in Neuroscience

A review of the history of ancient medicine reveals that most of the knowledge is concentrated in the studies of a few scientists. The best-known names include Hippocrates, Rufus of Ephesus, Celsus, and Galen. The survival of their works throughout the ages has been the most important factor contributing to their popularity. However, there are other scientists who made great contributions to science, but whose writings have been lost or destroyed over the course of time. As a result, their names are not as well known as those of others and the value of their contributions is not appreciated. With the improvement of communication technology in the past 50 years, links between the studies of ancient science can be made more effectively and scientists who have remained hidden under the shade of time have begun, after thousands of years, to receive the appreciation they deserve. In the field of neuroscience, the historical record focuses on Galen of Pergamon. But, when his marvelous works are carefully studied, it is interesting to note two names he frequently referenced: Herophilus (335-280 BC) and Erasistratus (310-250 BC). These two scientists were the first to place scientific value on the dissection of the human body. Herophilus is considered the father of scientific anatomy, and Erasistratus was the first experimental physiologist. Attracted by the prospect of material advancement and eminent students, both migrated from their homes in Asia Minor to Alexandria. The works of Herophilus and Erasistratus have been lost entirely, but some details of their teachings may be recovered from the writings of Galen. In this study, we focus on Herophilus, a master of ancient medicine, whose important discoveries about the human body formed the basis for positive science and the foundation for neuroscience.

Evolution of the theory of circulation

The first known descriptions regarding the basic aspects of circulation was probably in 500 B.C., by the Greek thinker Alcmaeon of Croton who observed arteries and veins to be dissimilar in animal dessection, and this was followed by the description of the human heart as a three chambered organ by Aristotle in 350 B.C. Herophilus of Chalcedon, a Greek anatomist, confirmed the findings of dissimilarity between arteries and veins in human cadaver dissections in 300 B.C., and determines that arteries were thicker than veins and contained blood. The advancement by far in the learning of human circulation was made possible first by significant contribution of Galen followed by observations of Ibn al-Nafis, Servetus, Colombo, Cesalpino, Vesalius and Fabricius. In 17th century William Harvey, an English physician, made important advancements into the understanding of this important area of medicine, advancements that continued with the observations of Malpighi.

Evolution of the theory of circulation*1

<h2>Abstract</h2> The first known descriptions regarding the basic aspects of circulation was probably in 500 B.C., by the Greek thinker Alcmaeon of Croton who observed arteries and veins to be dissimilar in animal dessection, and this was followed by the description of the human heart as a three chambered organ by Aristotle in 350 B.C. Herophilus of Chalcedon, a Greek anatomist, confirmed the findings of dissimilarity between arteries and veins in human cadaver dissections in 300 B.C., and determines that arteries were thicker than veins and contained blood. The advancement by far in the learning of human circulation was made possible first by significant contribution of Galen followed by observations of Ibn al-Nafis, Servetus, Colombo, Cesalpino, Vesalius and Fabricius. In 17th century William Harvey, an English physician, made important advancements into the understanding of this important area of medicine, advancements that continued with the observations of Malpighi.

Herophilus, Erasistratus, and the birth of neuroscience

Herophilus of Chalcedon (330–260 BC) was a rationalist physician who taught and practised in Ptolemaic Alexandria during a golden period of scientific enquiry. He was born in Chalcedon on the Asiatic side of the Bosporus and may have been apprenticed to Praxagoras of Cos during his medical training. His works have been lost, but some details of his teachings may be gleaned from the writings of later physicians such as Galen, Celsus, and Tertullian. His many books covered various topics including therapeutics, aphorisms, pulse lore, anatomy, gynaecology, ophthalmology, and “Against Common Opinions”.

On the etymology of "pancreas".

It is said that the pancreas was described first by Herophilus of Chalcedon in about 300 BC, and the organ was named by Rufus of Ephesus in about 100 AD. However, it is an established fact that the word pancreas had been used by Aristotle (384-322 BC) before Herophilus. In Aristotle's Historia Animalium, there is a line saying "another to the so-called pancreas." It is considered that the words "so-called pancreas" imply that the word pancreas had been popular at the time of Aristotle, but it had not been authorized yet as an anatomical term. However, the word pancreas presumably has been accepted as an anatomical term since Herophilus.