Anatomy  

The teaching of anatomy in Belfast dates back to 1819 when James Lawson Drummond – Chair of Anatomy and Physiology – introduced the subject within the Faculty of Arts, at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Inst.).

The Medical Faculty (located at Inst.) was formed in 1835 and housed a dissecting room, lecture room and museum where medical students received their training in anatomy.

In 1849, when Queen’s College Belfast opened, the Medical Faculty moved to the University Road site where lectures in anatomy were held, however, dissection continued at Inst. until 1863 when a new medical building opened in the University Quadrangle.  Anatomy continued to be taught here until 1968 when the Department re-located to the Medical Biology Centre beside the Belfast City Hospital.

Physiology

Physiology – the science of life – became a separate entity at Queens College, Belfast in 1893, when the earlier Chair of Anatomy and Physiology was divided into separate subject areas, with the founding of the Chair of Physiology by the Dunville family.  Physiology makes a major contribution to the Health Sciences, including Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy and Biomedical Science.  The Physiology class laboratory is situated in the Medical Biology Centre (MBC) and lectures are held at the MBC and the Royal Victoria Hospital.