Comparative cardiac anatomy

Anatomy is one of the oldest branches of medicine, with historical records dating back at least as far as the 3rd century bc; animal research dates back equally as far. Aristotle (384-322 bc) studied comparative animal anatomy and physiology, and Erasistratus of Ceos (304-258 bc) studied live animal anatomy and physiology (1). Galen of Pergamum (129-199 ad) is probably the most notable early anatomist who used animals in research to attempt to understand the normal structure and function of the body (2). He continuously stressed the centrality of anatomy and made an attempt to dissect every day because he felt it was critical to learning (3). His most notable work was De Anatomicis Administrationibus (On Anatomical Procedures), which when rediscovered in the 16th century, renewed interest in anatomy and scientific methods (2).