Question

This greek doctor could not dissect humans so he dissected animals instead

Answer 1

The Greek doctor who dissected animals because he could not dissect humans was likely Galen. His work, due to prohibitions against human dissection, contributed significantly to the medical field despite the limitations of his era.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Greek doctor who could not dissect humans and therefore dissected animals instead was likely Galen, an ancient physician who established many medical theories through animal dissection.

While human dissection was practiced by ancient Greek physicians, it later faced prohibitions due to various reasons, including religious beliefs and legal sanctions. Dissections were often limited to the bodies of criminals or those who had donated their bodies to science. In the absence of the opportunity to dissect human cadavers, anatomists like Galen turned to animals to study anatomical structures and develop their medical theories.

Throughout history, anatoical studies wer hindered by the inability to observe the internal structures of the living body.

This led to many medical assumptions being based on imagination and external observations. Notably, during the Renaissance, advancements in the study of human anatomy were made with the detailed anatomical drawings of Leonardo da Vinci and Andreas Vesalius.

Medical schools began to teach anatomy through human dissection where legal, but significant leaps in non-invasive examination of the human body did not occur until innovations like X-Rays were developed in the late nineteenth century.

Answer 2

Answer: The Greek doctor who could not dissect humans and therefore dissected animals instead was Galen (129-200 AD). Galen was a prominent physician, anatomist, and philosopher in ancient Rome, and he is considered one of the most important figures in the history of medicine. Galen's work was heavily influenced by the teachings of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates and he is known for his extensive writings on anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology. While Galen was unable to perform human dissections due to cultural and religious beliefs, he was able to perform dissections on animals, such as monkeys and pigs, and he used his findings to develop his understanding of human anatomy and physiology. Galen's work was highly influential in the development of Western medicine and his ideas remained prominent for centuries after his death.

During the time of Galen, dissection of human bodies was prohibited due to cultural and religious beliefs. The ancient Greeks believed that the body should remain intact even after death and that dissection was a violation of the body's sanctity. This belief persisted into the Roman era and beyond, which made it difficult for anatomists and physicians like Galen to study human anatomy directly.

As a result, Galen turned to animal dissection as an alternative. He dissected a variety of animals, including monkeys, pigs, and goats, and studied their anatomy and physiology. He also observed animals in nature, making important discoveries about their behavior and biology.

Galen's extensive writings on anatomy and physiology, which included detailed descriptions of the structures and functions of various organs and systems in the body, became foundational texts in the study of medicine. Even though Galen's knowledge of anatomy was based largely on animal dissections, his work was still influential and useful for generations of physicians and anatomists. It wasn't until many centuries later, during the Renaissance, that the human dissection became more accepted, which led to significant advances in the understanding of human anatomy and physiology.