Upper Cervical Experiments

Before Galvani began his Upper Cervical experiments with the animal electricity he spent much time studying the reactions of freshly prepared animal tissues. His principal subjects WERETHE NERVES and muscles of the frog’s hind legs a preparation now familiar to college biology students. The animal was killed and eviscerated, and the upper half of its body was removed so that its legs dangled from a segment of spinal column. WHENTHE NERVES OF THE LEGS WERE PINCHED OR OTHERWISE IRRITATED, THE MUSCLES CONTRACTED. Galvani reported many of these observations in 1777, and it was apparently at about this time that electrical phenomena first engaged his attention. 

 

22 January 2012 | Reference and Education