title: The "delivery" of Adam: a medical interpretation of Michelangelo.
abstract: This article describes what we believe to be the key to interpreting the concept represented by Michelangelo's painting the Creation of Adam. This fresco, one of his most famous masterpieces, is situated in the heart of the Sistine Chapel and is viewed by millions of people every year. A man of many talents, Michelangelo's proficiency in anatomical dissection is reflected in his artwork. As such, analyses of hidden meanings in this fresco have been ascribed, including the concept of the "Brain-God." However, we see a postpartum uterus and adjacent anatomy, justifying our interpretation that Michelangelo was depicting something far more fundamental: the birth of mankind.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Infectious Diseases Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases, "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Rome, Italy. Electronic address: stefano932@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Bella
authors.affiliation: 2nd Infectious Diseases Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases, "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taglietti
authors.affiliation: freelance anatomical painter, Muggiò, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iacobuzio
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: 2nd Infectious Diseases Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases, "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baiocchini
authors.affiliation: 2nd Infectious Diseases Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases, "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrosillo
mesh_terms: D002410:Catholicism / Q000266:history*; D005197:Famous Persons; D005260:Female; D049669:History, 16th Century; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D010151:Paintings / Q000266:history*; D036801:Parturition; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*