[Expression of the dignity of organs: the heart, a muscle].
As the muscular nature of the heart had been recognized and it had become evident that the heart was nothing but a hollow muscle, it lost its position as the centre of man. This became likewise true for its position within the body studied with anatomical and physiological methods as with the notion of the heart being an organ of sensibility, emotions, intellect, and will revealed in a particular "heart language". The dignity of the heart assigned to it from ancient time was treated with contempt as a but empty phrase. When, however, in the various attempts to study its myocardial architecture its highly sophisticated engeneering became evident, the real marvel of the heart was demonstrated engendering even in men and women of science an "element of aesthetic awe". Thus, in a certain sense, the heart has recovered its dignity.
Institut für Anatomie der Universität Münster, Vesaliusweg 2-4, D-48149 Münster, Deutschland. Reinhard.Hildebrand@ukmuenster.de
Reinhard
R
Hildebrand
D000715:Anatomy / Q000266:history; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male