List No. 037

TOPICS TO BE INVESTIGATED

Leonardo da Vinci

1489

Leonardo da Vinci’s fascination with every aspect of the human body is apparent in much of his work; the famous Vitruvian Man drawing – a now iconic sketch of a man whose supposedly ideal proportions were based on those discussed in the writings of Roman architect Vitruvius – being a prime example. It was around this time, in 1489, that Leonardo wrote in one of his notebooks, from right to left as was his wont, a list of topics to be investigated in his quest to become an expert anatomist.

What nerve is the cause of movement of the eye and makes the movement of one eye draw the other

on closing the eyelids

on raising the eyelids

on lowering the eyelids

on shutting the eyes

on opening the eyes

on raising the nostrils

on opening the lips with the teeth closed

on bringing the lips to a point

on laughing

on [the expression of] wonder

describe the origin of man when he is generated in the womb

and why an infant of eight months does not live

what is sneezing

what is yawning

epilepsy

spasm

paralysis

trembling with cold

sweating

tiredness

hunger

sleep

thirst

lust

on the nerve which causes movement from the shoulder to the elbow

on movement from the elbow to the hand

from the wrist to the beginning of the fingers

from the beginning of the fingers to their middle

and from the middle to the last joint

on the nerve which causes movement of the thigh

and from the knee to the foot and from the ankle to the toes

and also to their middle

and of the rotation of the leg