Final answer:
The Anatomy Act facilitated the legal dissection of criminals' corpses and donated bodies for medical research and education, significantly advancing the study of human anatomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Anatomy Act was a significant piece of legislation that impacted the study of human anatomy and by extension the medical field. Before the Anatomy Act, knowledge about the internal structures of the human body was limited due to fear and legal restrictions on dissecting bodies. Grave robbing and dissection of criminals' corpses were the dark avenues through which anatomical research was conducted. The detailed anatomical works of Leonardo da Vinci and Andreas Vesalius ignited a growing interest in human anatomy. Eventually, laws conducive to medical research were enacted, allowing medical students to dissect donated bodies and the corpses of criminals legally. This facilitated a leap forward in understanding human anatomy and pathology, which was complemented in the late nineteenth century with the advent of non-invasive imaging techniques like X-Rays, allowing for the study of living bodies.