Eduard Pernkopf: The Nazi book of anatomy still used by surgeons

[Judi Lynn]

By Keiligh Baker
BBC News
19 August 2019

When nerve surgeon Dr Susan Mackinnon needed help to finish an operation, she reached, as she often does, for a mid-20th Century book of anatomy.

Thanks to the complex hand-drawn illustrations - showing the human body peeled back layer by layer - Dr Mackinnon, from Washington University in St Louis, was able to complete the procedure.

The book she had used, the innocuous-sounding Pernkopf Topographic Anatomy of Man, is widely considered to be the best example of anatomical drawings in the world. It is richer in detail and more vivid in colour than any other.

Skin, muscle, tendons, nerves, organs and bone are revealed in graphic detail. It's not for the faint-hearted.

More:
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-49294861

[FBaggins]

1. The Jewish medical ethics position seems right to me

They concluded that most Jewish authorities would allow the use of the images to save human lives - under the condition the history of the atlas was made known, so the victims were afforded some of the dignity they are owed.

It’s also high time that funds were expenses to create a modern high-tech version (with ethical subjects of course)

[Nitram]

2. Very interesting story.

[MicaelS]

3. Great story thanks for posting.

Never heard of this before.