BMS Anatomy Home Page
| Anatomy provides a unique opportunity to study the functional morphology of the human being in a wide variety of ways. Whether viewing parts of individual cells under the electron microscope, looking at how tissues arise during development or looking at the living human body as a whole - the emphasis is on the intimate and dynamic relation between form and function. Much emphasis is given to qualifying biostructure by modern techniques such as image analysis and reconstruction using computers and numerical methods. With its interest in Man, the study of Anatomy offers a vital link between the biological and medical sciences. |
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The University of Aberdeen was originally founded as St. Mary’s College (later known as King’s College in 1494 by Bishop Elphinstone. Marischal College was established in 1593. It was not until 1860 that the amalgamated colleges were known as the University of Aberdeen. King’s College had six members of staff, one of whom was a Mediciner who was expected to teach on any aspect of the subject including Anatomy. The first official teacher of Anatomy was William Gordon who held the post from 1632 - 1640. The study of Anatomy at that time was a largely theoretical one until a small infirmary was built in the town in 1739. A named lectureship in Anatomy was created at Marischal College in 1802 a post held by Charles Skene until 1818. In 1818 the two colleges agreed to operate a Joint Medical School and Skene continued to teach Anatomy up to 1823. Between 1823 and 1830 Alexander Ewing lecturered jointly in Anatomy & Physiology but was apparently more interested in politics than in teaching. Such was the dissatisfaction with the execution of his duties that the students petitioned the University for the return of one third of their fees since they considered Ewing had failed to deliver one third of their course ! William Pirrie, an enthusiastic teacher, occupied the post between 1830 - 1839 at which time the Joint Medical School was disbanded because one of the clauses in the original agreement had, according to the Senate at King’s, been ‘palpably violated’. Thus between 1839 and 1860 there were two sites at which Anatomy could be learned. At Marischal College, subsequent to the break-up of the Joint Medical School the first Chair of Anatomy was occupied between 1839 - 1841 by Allen Thomson, a well known histologist and embryologist and from 1841 - 1860 (University of Aberdeen) by Professor Lizars. Meanwhile at King’s College from 1839 - 1844 Andrew Moir, a popular and well known teacher of Anatomy was appointed but died young. E.B.Sherriffs taught for one year between 1844 and 1845 to be followed by an acknowledged expert on the structure of cartilage Peter Redfern who remained at King’s until the amalgamation in 1860. |