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Brain: Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction
The following table presents the outcomes of our re-enactment of the dissection of the brain according to Galen´s description in Anatomical Procedures book IX, chapters 1 to 5 (Garofalo Vol.II,551- 579=K II,707-731).¹ We decided to limit our experiment to the textual material that is extant in Ancient Greek (from the middle of chapter 5 onwards, the text is only available in an Arabic translation from the 9th century).
We utilized the same methodology that is described in the table that corresponds with the abdominal wall and peritoneum. However, in this procedure – following the Galenic instructions – we dissected the brain of a cow.
As the viewer will notice, the instructions are presented according to the sequence in which they appear in the text, however, some of the footage that corresponds to early steps of the dissection only became visible in more advanced stages. Consequently, some of the images that correspond to early steps could only be obtained later than the prescribed order. We have clarified in the observations section whenever the structure under discussion was not visualized in accordance with the progression of the narrative.
¹ Garofalo, I. 1986 Galenus: Anatomicarum Administrationum Libri qui Supersunt Novem: earundem interpretatio Arabica Hunaino Isaaci filio ascripta. Volume II: Books V–IX. Neapoli: E. J. Brill / Istituto Universitario Orientale.
Legend to the Re-enactment Guide
In the guide below you find the data for each of the steps in the dissection.
Brain Dissection
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1.0
1 - Skull (551, 22–553,18)
1a-1b
1
1c
1
2.0
2 - Duramater (553, 18-555, 18)
2a
2
2b
2
2c
2
2d
2
2e
2
2f
2
2g-2h
2
2i
2
2j
2
2k-2l
2
3a-3g &
3B-3G
3- Exploration of the sinuses of the duramater (553, 18–557, 8)
4.0
4- Presses superficial & deep or Herophilean (557,8-29)
4a-4b
4
4c-4h
4
4i-4j
4
5a-5h
5- Vessels originated from the presses (559, 1-11)
6a-6c
6- Irrigation of the cerebellum (559, 11-17)
7.0
7- Irrigation of the brain (559, 17- 561, 6)
7a
7
7b-7c
7
7d
7
7e
7
8.0
8- Opening and removing of the thick meninx (561, 7- 561, 14)
8a-8c
8
8d-8e
8
9a-9b
9-Thin meninx (pia-arachnoid or
leptomeninx) (561, 14- 561, 24)
10a-10h
10-Experiment demonstrating the virtual space between the duramater and the pia-arachnoid (561, 28–563, 14)
11a-11b
11- Dissection of the brain & corpus callosum (563, 15- 565, 10)
11c-11h
11
11i
11
12.0
12-Dissection of the lateral ventricles (565, 10– 569, 8)
12a-12b
12
12c-12d
12
12e
12
12f-12j
12
12k-12t
12
13a-13c
13- Pineal gland (569, 8– 571, 11)
13d
13
13e-13g
13
13h
13
14a-14b
14- Third ventricle & fornix (571, 11– 573, 18)
14c
14
14d-14f
14
14g-14j
14
15a-15c
15- aqueduct (573, 19-577, 13)
15d-15e
15
16a-16b
16- Colliculli superiores and posterior wall of the aqueduct. (577, 14–577, 25)
16c-16d
16
17a
17- Vermis cerebelli (577, 25–579, 14)
17b
17
17c
17
17d-17f
17
17g-17h
17
18a-18f
18
1.0
Step
1 - Skull (551, 22–553,18)
Instruction
Observations
Galen does not explain how to open the skull, he assumes that we can find it readily open by a butcher.
From the description of the procedure we can deduce that the sagittal and lamboid sutures are preserved, and that some remains of the skull can often be found laterally. All this suggests that he opened the skull with a lateral blow, which preserved the sutures between the parietal and occipital bones.
It should be highlighted that opening the skull was rather laborious even for us today with an electric tool. The numerous clips are aimed at illustrating the different approaches and the different tools that we used to achieve it. In other words, opening the skull in few blows (as the text recommends), must have required a very strong axe, a very strong blow and an experienced butcher/student that knew exactly where to apply the blow.
Translation
Normally, in big cities, ox brains are sold ready [for dissection], already devoid of most parts of their skull.
Greek text
ἕτοιμοι δὲ τοὐπίσαν ἐν ταῖς μεγάλαις πόλεσιν ἐγκέφαλοι βόειοι πιπράσκονται τῶν πλείστων τοῦ κρανίου μερῶν γυμνοί.
Images
Step Video
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