Gresham College Lectures

Christopher Wren’s Medical Discoveries: the ‘Architect of Human Anatomy’


Listen Later

** Please note that this lecture will contain several mentions of early animal testing which some audience members may find upsetting**

Christopher Wren was part of probably the first ‘research team’ assembled in Oxford in the 17th century, dedicated to better understanding the human body. With colleagues, Wren contributed to: the near-discovery of oxygen; the first human transfusion of blood; the first intravenous therapy and first intravenous anaesthetic; the description of the anatomy of the arteries supplying the brain (the ‘circle of Willis’); and remarkably, the first successful cardiac resuscitation.

The lecture will explain the continued relevance of these discoveries.


A lecture by Jaideep Pandit recorded on 17 May 2023 at Barnard's Inn Hall, London.

The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/wren-medical

Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/

Website:  https://gresham.ac.uk
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollege
Facebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollege
Instagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollege

Support the show

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Gresham College LecturesBy Gresham College

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

30 ratings


More shows like Gresham College Lectures

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,389 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,189 Listeners

More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

More or Less: Behind the Stats

898 Listeners

The Reith Lectures by BBC Radio 4

The Reith Lectures

153 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,898 Listeners

In Our Time: Culture by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Culture

597 Listeners

In Our Time: Religion by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Religion

279 Listeners

Intelligence Squared by Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

785 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,655 Listeners

The English Heritage Podcast by English Heritage

The English Heritage Podcast

227 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

2,964 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

2,993 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

12,854 Listeners

Gone Medieval by History Hit

Gone Medieval

1,736 Listeners

Not Just the Tudors by History Hit

Not Just the Tudors

1,967 Listeners