The Renaissance of Reproductive Science: Leonardo da Vinci’s Anatomical Contributions

Carroll, Michael ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7853-6732 (2025) The Renaissance of Reproductive Science: Leonardo da Vinci’s Anatomical Contributions. Reproductive Sciences. ISSN 1933-7191

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Abstract

Leonardo de Vinci is considered one of the greatest artists that has ever lived. His work includes the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper are celebrated worldwide. His talents expand beyond his art and his contributions to disciplines such as engineering, astronomy, geometry, botany, geology have revealed is him as a polymath. One discipline where he devoted a considerable amount of time and effort was anatomy. His anatomical notes and drawings can be paralleled to texts books of today. This review explores Leonardo da Vinci’s significant contributions to the study of human anatomy, with a particular focus on reproductive anatomy. Leonardo’s meticulous dissections and detailed anatomical sketches, despite being influenced by the limited scientific understanding and constraints of his time, reveal his deep curiosity and innovative approach. His work, though not widely recognised during his lifetime, laid foundational insights into neuroanatomy, the cardiovascular system, and foetal development. He had a particular interest in reproduction and the genitourinary anatomy and made many anatomical studies in this area. The review also examines the challenges Leonardo faced, such as the lack of preservation techniques and the influence of Galenic teachings, which led to both groundbreaking observations and notable inaccuracies in his anatomical studies or the reproductive system.