The Enduring Legacy of Art in Cardiac Anatomy: From Da Vinci to Gray, AHJ December 2025

This comprehensive review is published in December 2025 in the American Heart Journal.

This news article elaborates on the historical role of artistic representations in shaping the fundamental understanding of cardiac anatomy, physiology, and pathology.

Historically, artistic representations have played a crucial role in shaping our fundamental understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and pathologies of the human heart and cardiovascular system. For over three decades, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have been leading causes of morbidity and mortality, highlighting the necessity of integrating creative methods for patient care and education. Our comprehension of the human body has greatly benefited from this historical union of art and medicine, particularly within cardiology.

The Heart in Ancient Myth and Philosophy

Artistic renderings of the heart played a significant role in the development of early understandings of its function. In the early ancient era, medical conditions were approached based on folklore, trial, and error due to a primitive knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. However, in various mythologies—such as Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese—the heart was broadly understood to be the seat of life, conscience, the will, or intelligence, a concept documented as early as the Papyrus (circa 1700 BC). This cardio-centric theory was adopted and supported by Greek philosophers, including Aristotle (384-322 BC).

Da Vinci’s Artistic Anatomy and Clinical Observations

The Italian and European Renaissance brought forth some of the most vital studies on cardiovascular physiology, driven by polymath artists like Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519). Da Vinci’s drawings were remarkably accurate, providing the earliest known representations of the coronary arteries, which he detailed as extending into the heart muscle and “crowning” the organ. His work included precise observations on the formation of vortical structures in Valsalva’s sinuses, demonstrating the mechanism for the valve’s closure during diastole, a concept ahead of his time.

Art also served as a source of clinical observation. In Da Vinci’s painting "Mona Lisa" (1503-1506), close inspection revealed cutaneous abnormalities—a skin lesion suggestive of a xanthelasma on the left eyelid and an approximately 3-centimeter swelling on the dorsum of the right hand suggestive of a subcutaneous lipoma. These visual findings led authors to draw a connection between the possible underlying hyperlipidemia and subsequent ischemic heart disease, potentially contributing to Gherardini’s death.

Vesalius and the Masterpiece of Human Anatomy

Another monumental contribution came from Andreas Van Wesel (Vesalius in Latin) (1514-1564), whose seven-volume collection on human anatomy, De Humani Corporis Fabrica (14th century), was hailed as one of the largest single contributions to medical science, blending creative art, typography, and illustration. This work detailed the arteries and veins. Through his experiments, Vesalius established the relationship between the pulse and the contraction of the heart. Crucially, the second edition of his work, published in 1555, confirmed the absence of visible pores in the interventricular septum.

From Blood Flow to the "Doctor's Bible"

By the 17th and 19th centuries, anatomical drawings were fundamental to early medical training. William Harvey’s De Motu Cordis (1628) included drawings illustrating the flow of blood through the heart and vessels, revolutionizing the understanding of cardiovascular physiology. Later, the publication of Henry Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body (1858), often termed "the doctor’s Bible," eventually became the standard textbook of reference for teaching cardiac anatomy to physicians and surgeons alike.

Legacy of Art in Cardiac Anatomy -Strong Early Foundations

Early visual interpretations, particularly Da Vinci’s meticulous anatomical drawings and the standardized illustrations found in Gray’s Anatomy, served as vital teaching tools, enabling clinicians and students to grasp in-depth medical concepts and the complexities of the heart and vascular system.

The next two articles in this series will examine contemporary applications and future directions of art in cardiovascular science respectively.

Reference: Ugoala O, Ebubechukwu U, Mares AC, Okeke C, Anosike U, Tamirisa KP, Obuobi S, Gibson CM. Visual art and representation in cardiology: Past, present, and future. Am Heart J. 2025 Dec;290:201-215. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2025.06.016. Epub 2025 Jun 27. PMID: 40582478.

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