title: [Gradual knowledge of the structure and function of the cardiovascular system].
abstract: The first anatomical lexicon was established in old Egypt, Alexandría by the priests who ritually offered all the parts of the human corpses to their gods. About 500 years b. C. studies of comparative anatomy began due to the physician Alcmeon of Croton, author of the text seriously starting the history of scientific pathology according to Laín Entralgo. It was only during the III century b. C. that dissections of human corpses began at the famous Alexandrian School of Medicine in Ptolemaic Egypt. During the Roman era and in high Middle Ages, physicians carried out anatomical studies in humans in order to dismiss or confirm poisoning suspicions or to extrapolate their flindings in animals (monkeys, pigs, etc) to humans. However, in low Middle Ages (XIV century), direct studies in human corpses were performed once again. These studies reached their pinnacle in the XVI century allowing the discovery of the lesser blood circulation and later of the greater blood circulation. The XVII century saw the coming of microscopic anatomy and the XVIII century witnessed the zenith of pathological anatomy. These studies developed during the following century into clinical-anatomical comparison. Today the help of technological studies is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Tlalpan, Distrito Federal, México. Electronic address: alessandro.micheli@cardiologia.org.mx.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Micheli Serra
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iturralde Torres
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aranda Fraustro
mesh_terms: D002309:Cardiology / Q000266:history*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge
keywords: Anatomo-physiology; Anatomofisiología; Anatomía antigua; Anatomía prevesaliana; Anatomía vesaliana; Ancient age anatomy; Cardiocirculatory system; Mexico; México; Postvesallian anatomy; Prevesallian anatomy; Sistema cardiovascular