Museo di Anatomia Umana Filippo Civinini
Museum | Pisa | Tuscany | Italy
The Museo di Anatomia Umana "Filippo Civinini" in Pisa is a significant scientific, archaeological, and artistic museum that officially opened in 1839. It is located in the historic medical faculty of the University of Pisa and is named after the anatomist Filippo Civinini, who played a key role in shaping the museum.
History and Development
The origins of the museum date back to the early 1800s, when Tommaso Biancini, an anatomist and professor, began collecting anatomical preparations. Filippo Civinini took over the management in 1834 and significantly expanded the collection. Under his leadership, the museum officially opened in 1839 as the "Gabinetto Anatomico" to support the first gathering of Italian scientists in Pisa. By 1841, the collection had grown to about 1,327 preparations, and today it includes around 3,400 exhibits.
Collections and Exhibitions
The museum houses an extensive collection of anatomical preparations divided into various sections:
Osteology: This section includes complete skeletons, both artificial and natural, of exceptional size and different ethnic groups. Particularly notable are the prehistoric skulls discovered by Carlo Regnoli in the caves of Monti Pisani and the Apuan Alps.
Angiology: This department features numerous preparations of the heart and blood vessels preserved using special injection techniques. A highlight is the so-called "anatomical statues" that depict the structures of the cardiovascular system in detail.
Splanchnology: This section displays various parts of the digestive, respiratory, nervous, and urinary organs. Of particular interest are the laryng preparations, where the cartilage is either separated or held together by its own ligaments.
In addition to the anatomical collections, the museum houses significant archaeological exhibits:
Egyptian Mummy: A well-preserved mummy with a sarcophagus dating back to the expeditions of Ippolito Rosellini and François Champollion in the first half of the 19th century.
Pre-Columbian Mummies: These were collected by the physician and scholar Carlo Regnoli in the second half of the 19th century and include mummies, burial goods, and vases.
Galleries
The museum has two significant galleries:
Galleria dei Busti: This gallery displays plaster casts of ancient anatomists, providing insight into the history of anatomical research.
Galleria Mascagni: This gallery showcases the anatomical plates by Paolo Mascagni, which are monumental works of anatomical illustration.
Education and Research
The museum serves not only as an exhibition space but also as an educational and research center. It offers various educational programs aimed at promoting interest in anatomy and related disciplines. Additionally, it is a place for scientific studies and research in the fields of anatomy and medical history.
Overall, the Museo di Anatomia Umana "Filippo Civinini" in Pisa represents a unique combination of science, art, and history, providing visitors with a deep insight into the development of anatomical sciences.
