Why Was Andreas Vesalius Important

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In 1539 a physician and anatomist by the name of Andreas Vesalius made an significant discovery that changed the understanding of human anatomy forever. During the Renaissance, many people still believed and were taught the Ancient Roman philosopher Galen's ideas about the human body, and these teachings were unchallenged for hundreds of years. Vesalius was one of the few doctors of his time to make his own discoveries instead of blindly following ancient diagrams. He dissected human bodies and made detailed anatomical diagrams that proved the Ancient doctor's ideas to in fact be wrong. The immediate effects of Vesalius' discovery were that surgeries became more successful due to a better understanding of anatomy, doctors now had accurate diagrams of where each organ was located in the body, and a greater understanding of the human bone structure. Vesalius' book was taught to those studying to become doctors and were used during surgeries themselves. Additionally, Galen's ideas were used more infrequently, with more doctors eager to do their own research which meant that there was an increase of discoveries during this time.…show more content…
But it wasn't just his research that made an impact, it was the way that carried out his research, by using human bodies he opened the door for many other significant discoveries to be made that would have never occurred otherwise. The Church had forbidden the use of human bodies, preventing any advancement in medicine, and it wasn't until Vesalius successfully defied that law that dissection of humans were allowed in the University of Padua. Even today human dissection is used, and this freedom has made hundreds, if not thousands, of discoveries possible. Vesalius inspired the once static world of medicine to advance in a way it never had been able to
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