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Original fileAnatomical Study of the Lungs and Associated Vasculature
menschliche Lunge mit Arterie und Vene
About This Work
The print is divided into four sections: Figure I shows the anterior view of the lungs with the trachea and central vessels; Figure II shows the posterior view with the lobes labeled; Figures III and IV isolate the pulmonary arterial and venous networks, respectively. The images are highly diagrammatic, utilizing line hatching to define the volume of the organs and the branching complexity of the vessels. Extensive Latin annotations and lettered keys accompany each figure to explain the anatomical structures depicted.
This plate originates from Robert Fludd's 'Utriusque Cosmi Maioris scilicet et Minoris metaphysica, physica atque technica Historia' (1617–1621), a seminal work of Renaissance natural philosophy that attempts to map the macrocosm and microcosm. It reflects the early 17th-century preoccupation with integrating anatomical observation into a broader Hermetic worldview.
Inscriptions(Latin)
136 REGIONIS MEDIAE LIBER IV. TABVLA VII. EST PVLMONVM, CVM VASIS EIVSDEM, quatuor figuris distincta. FIG.I. LIB.II. FIG.II. TAB.XIII. FIG.III. FIG.IV. Figura 1. ostendit anteriorem pulmonum faciem cum suis vasis, nam A.A. Tam in 1. quam 2. figura indicant Oesophagum sub aspera arteria. B. In vtrique & C. in 1. notant asperam arteriam, & C. in 1. venam arteriosam. D. Arteria est venosa. 1.2.E.F.G.H. Sunt quatuor pulmonis lobi. K. Sunt Diaphragma. L. Canalis pulmonum. Figura ergo secunda demonstrat posteriorem pulmonum faciem. Vena arteriosa. In figura tertia qua venam arteriosam describit, & eius partes. A. Explicat venae arteriosae orificium. a.b.c. Valuulae sunt eius tres. B. Tunica eius interior: vt & C. exterior. D. Diuisio venae arteriosae in truncos duos, qui per E.F. designantur. G.G.G.G. Eiusdem distributio per pulmonis substantiam. Arteria venosa. Figura 4. Arteriam venosam denudatam indicat, cuius A.B.B.C.C. Orificium arteriae venosae, quo cordi A. adnascitur, eiusque in truncos quatuor diuisio obles- uatur. E.E.E.E. Arteria venosae distributio per pulmonem. F. Tunica simplex huius arteriae.