The practitioners of Ancient Egyptian medicine were very advanced
for their time. One of the few cultures that had an extensive and
reasonably accurate concept of the human anatomy, Egyptians of this era
had a working knowledge of the functions of most major organs. This
basic knowledge of anatomy led to the development of more advanced and
effective treatments for disease and injury. The theories and
techniques of Ancient Egyptian medicine were highly regarded by other
cultures and studied by many of the masters of early Greek medicine,
forming the basis of many of their own medical advancements.
The
mastery of human anatomy evidenced in the writings of Ancient Egyptian
medicine was largely due to the mummification ceremonies that were
practiced by the Egyptians during these times. Mummification involved
the removal of most of the body’s organs, including the intestine,
pancreas, liver, spleen, heart, lungs, and brain. Dissection of the
human body was a forbidden practice in many ancient civilizations,
giving Egyptian practitioners a distinct advantage over their
colleagues in other nations in the study of anatomy. Many scholars from
ancient Greece studied Egyptian writings on human anatomy to supplement
their limited knowledge on the subject.
Ancient Egyptian
medicine encompassed a wide variety of practices that included faith
healing, embalming, surgery, and autopsy. Autopsy was another practice
that evolved from the mummification ceremonies. Embalmers, while
preparing the deceased for mummification, often examined the body to
determine the cause of the fatal illness. The development of autopsy
studies gave Egyptian physicians a greater knowledge of the effects of
disease and injury on the body, enabling great advancements in surgical
procedures and healing practices.
The advanced knowledge of
human anatomy provided to early medical practitioners by the
accomplishments of Ancient Egyptian medicine laid the groundwork for
many historic medical discoveries. While Ancient Greek medical science
is often cited as the basis upon which modern medicine was built, the
knowledge of ancient Egyptians must share the credit for the early
advancement of medical science