“I Miss My Liver.” Nonmedical Sources in the History of Hepatocentrism

Abstract

Hepatocentrism was a medical doctrine that considered the liver the center of the whole human being. It originated in ancient populations (Mesopotamic civilization) and persisted in Western countries until the seventeenth century. Hidden references to hepatocentrism may be found in artistic representations and literary works, from the myth of Prometheus in the Greco‐Roman world to the crucifixion iconography throughout the Middle Ages. In the mid‐1600s, fundamental discoveries irrefutably demonstrated the central role of the heart in human physiology, which laid the foundations for creating cardiocentrism, shifting the life's center from the liver to the heart. The advent of cardiocentrism immediately restricted the importance given to the liver, favoring the heart in the fine arts. Nevertheless, the liver maintained its importance in literature and popular belief as is evidenced by the widely acclaimed literary texts “Snow White” by the Brothers Grimm, “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville, and “Ode to the Liver” by Pablo Neruda. Our aim is to analyze the most significant artistic representations and literary works that contain references to hepatocentrism, evaluating the changing ideas and beliefs regarding the role and function of the liver throughout history. We want to underline the tight relationship between art and medicine; fine art and literature could be a valuable source for understanding the history of hepatology. (Hepatology Communications 2018; 00:000‐000)

Gaspare Aselli (1581-1625) and Lacteis Venis: Four Centuries From the Discovery of Lymphatic System

“…The first half of the 17th century can be seen as the turning point in physiological knowledge, wherein numerous new discoveries helped to overthrow the dogmatic hepatocentrism proposed by Galen 15 centuries before, beginning a new chapter based on cardiocentrism. [7][8][9] Experimentation on live animals (anatomia animata, living anatomy) and the vivisection used by Gaspare Aselli provided the basis for much of the subsequent investigation into human physiology. During this time, some authors, particularly English physician James Primrose (died in 1659), expressed doubts about the use of animal vivisection in the study of human anatomy, maintaining that opening live animals results in an unnatural condition that makes it difficult to determine what occurs in normal circumstances.…”

Emotional Conceptualization in Turkish and English Body Idioms

“…The country's location at the crossroads of Eastern, Asian, and Western cultures may be the source of the equal importance of heart and liver/lung in Turkish culture. While the ancient Eastern civilizations situated both in and outside of the Mediterranean Basin considered liver/lung as the center of human body, the Western civilizations view heart as the locus of life (See Orlandi et al 2018). Turkish culture and therefore language might be affected by this geographical feature.…”

Challenges in the Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Towards a Compassionate Approach

“…The importance of the liver as a vital organ has been recognized since antiquity, when the liver was considered to represent the center of the human soul and the origin of life, a theory known as hepatocentrism [18]. Indeed, the ancient Greeks may have been knowledgeable of the ability of the liver to regenerate, as demonstrated in two ancient Greek myths-the stories of Prometheus and Tityus-wherein the destruction and regeneration of the liver is portrayed [18][19][20].…”