Folia Morphol. Vol. 73, No. 2, pp. 103–112 DOI: 10.5603/FM.2014.0018 Copyright © 2014 Via Medica ISSN 0015–5659 www.fm.viamedica.pl R E V I E W A R T I C L E 103 Address for correspondence: Dr S. Marinković, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr. Subotić 4/2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia, tel: +381 11 2645958, fax: +381 11 2686172, e-mail: mocamarinkovic@med.bg.ac.rs Heart in anatomy history, radiology, anthropology and art S. Marinković 1 , D. Lazić 2 , V. Kanjuh 3 , S. Valjarević 4 , I. Tomić 5 , M. Aksić 1 , A. Starčević 1 1 Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia 2 Clinic of Psychiatry Laza Lazarević, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia 3 Serbian Academy of Science and Art, Belgrade, Serbia 4 Department of Otorhinolaryngology with Maxillofacial Pathology, Clinical Hospital Centre Zemun, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia 5 Faculty of Art History, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia [Received 31 August 2013; Accepted 30 October 2013] Background: Anthropologic, artistic and medical signifcance of heart inspired us to undertake this multidisciplinary study. Materials and methods: Amongst the 24 obtained echocardiograms and phono- grams, 1 was used for a Photoshop processing. In addition, over 20,000 artwork reproductions were examined in this study. Results: Artistic and symbolic presentation of heart started some 15,000 years ago. First heart models were made by the Egyptian and Olmec civilisations. An- cient cultures regarded heart as the seat of the soul, spirit and intelligence. First anatomical and artistic images of heart were created by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15 th century, and frst wax models by the Italian anatomists in the 17 th century. Mediaeval religious symbolism of heart was replaced in the Renaissance and later on mainly by its role in the romantic love. Anatomical heart art continued in the 18 th and 19 th centuries through the works of Sénac, Cloquet, Hirschfeld and Bourgery. Some modern artists, such as Dalí, Kahlo, Rivera, Warhol, Ivanjicki, Vital, Kober and Mastrlova, created the anatomical heart images or sculptures, whereas some others, such as Duchamp, Klee, Miró, Matisse and Dine, presented heart symbol in their artworks. New radiologic technologies produce fne images of heart, some of which are similar to the works of modern artists. Conclusions: Heart biology and symbolism have had a tremendous infuence on our culture, including art and medical sciences. New radiologic techniques and computer technology have produced such images of heart, which substantially improved diag- nosis, but also enhanced the heart aesthetics. (Folia Morphol 2014; 73, 2: 103–112) Key words: anatomy, anthropology, culture, fne art, heart, history, radiology INTRODUCTION Human heart (Sanskr. krd; Gr. kardia; Lat. cor; Ital. cuore; Fr. coeur; Ger. Herz; Pol. serce; Serb. srce; Rus. сердце) has been in the focus of attention from the ancient times to the present day [13, 47, 65]. The heart was, and still is, of tremendous biological, symbolic, artistic, mythological and religious signif- cance [6, 9, 25, 52]. Due to a shortage of literature in some of these domains, the aim of our study was to present the heart from the anatomical, radiologic, anthropologic and artistic aspect. brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by Via Medica Journals