ABSTRACT
We have shown that anatomy and physiology tended to separate during the XVIth century, although they did not become entirely distinct branches of science. Anatomy was especially brilliant during the XVIth century, while physiology emerged in the XVIIth and then made rapid strides, developing into a distinct branch of science. It is clear that the general idea of the science of man was not then distinctly formulated, but three main methods of investigation may be noted. The first was that of anatomy or simple dissection of the body, which came rather more within the domain of surgery. The second was that of experimental physiology and properly speaking belonged to medicine. The third was that of science in general, which tended to be given over to natural philosophy, as it was called.
