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New Temporary Exhibition Open

6 April 2019
COMPARATIVE (6)



Our new temporary exhibition 'A Design for Life' opens tomorrow!

Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species of animals, including humans.

From ancient times, anatomists have dissected animals to gain a better understanding of the body. Comparing the similarities and differences between the internal anatomy of humans and other animals has proved a fertile area of study in helping us understand the anatomy and interconnectedness of all living things.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, comparative anatomy was seen as a central part of medical education and training. When Surgeons' Hall opened in 1832, an entire room within the museum was devoted to a large collection of zoological skeletons and specimens, donated by well-known Scottish Comparative Anatomist John Barclay. 

This new exhibition explores the history of this fascinating subject and how integral it was to the beginnings of Surgeons' Hall Museums.

The exhibition will open on the 6th of April and will run until Easter 2020.
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