Final answer:
In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, Leonardo da Vinci and Andreas Vesalius made significant contributions to anatomical knowledge, which resulted in increased interest in human anatomy and improved medical education. The practice of dissection became more accepted, leading to advancements in understanding the human body. The invention of X-rays in the late nineteenth century allowed for the internal observation of the living body without surgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, anatomical knowledge significantly advanced with the contributions of Leonardo da Vinci and Andreas Vesalius. Da Vinci, an Italian artist and anatomist, is well-known for his detailed anatomical drawings and for dissecting 30 corpses in his lifetime to better understand the human body. The Flemish anatomist Vesalius is also noted for his contributions to the study of anatomy through his publications. Their work, along with other factors, led to an increased interest in human anatomy, improvements in medical education, and the eventual establishment of laws allowing the dissection of corpses for research. It is noteworthy that though many advancements in anatomical knowledge were made, it was not until the late nineteenth century that the discovery of X-rays provided a non-surgical method to view the internal structures of the living body.
In summary, the rise in anatomical knowledge was greatly influenced by the Renaissance period, when barriers against the dissection of the dead began to lift and when artists and scientists began to rigorously study the human body both through dissections and later, medical imaging technologies.