Homunculus
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Side view of sensory homunculus
Image courtesy Wikimedia CommonsI thought homunuculus was just a name for a fictional tiny humanoid, but discovered there’s a little more to it. In medieval times it was believed that a homunculus could be created through alchemy, but from the late 18th to the late 19th century, scientists believed in preformationism.
This theory held that a perfectly formed miniature person existed in a sperm or an egg and simply developed into a full-sized human being.
Nicolaas Hartsoeker, (1656-1725) was a Dutch polymath who was interested in embryology. He invented the screw-barrel simple microscope in about 1694 and claimed to be the first person to study sperm cells under a microscope. It is said that he believed that a tiny person was present in a sperm cell, although he never claimed to have seen one.
He sketched his theory, which neatly explained how a human baby was conceived in a woman. Conception was ill understood! They knew the means but not the fine detail.
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
The cortical homunculus is a visualisation to represent how much of the brain is dedicated to different body parts. The size of each body part indicates ‘the degree of sensory or motor control it requires.’ A homunculus is shown with a huge face and tongue, for example, because they have a greater range of fine motor movement and a greater density of neurons. Legs and trunk are disproportionately small because they assume less space on the cortical map.
Goodness. It was the sort of word that made me think you were going to write about something from a Harry Potter story. I do vaguely recall memory of having encountered the word and read about the beliefs you describe, but I guess it's the kind of info we chuckle about now and then forget we read it. Imagine alchemists hoping to create a perfectly formed small human! Mind you they are still trying - they call themselves genetic engineers these days.
ReplyDeleteGenetic engineering can be beneficial, to overcome developmental problems.. The idea of 'designer babies' leaves me shuddering.
DeleteI've heard the word before but thought it was one of the many evolutionary stages man went through. In a way I suppose it is, from egg and sperm to fully formed human. There were some strange ideas along the way about how it all happened.
ReplyDeleteHumans have always tried to make sense of the world and we still do.
DeleteAnd there was me imagining a gardening post from that title.
ReplyDeleteInteresting - Homunculus predatori, maybe?
DeleteI don't know where you find this stuff, but it is always interesting. I had no idea what your title could be about- not a clue..
ReplyDeleteIt's a word I often use for so-called men I despise.
DeleteI didn't know any of this !!!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
It's a lovely word to say.
DeleteI had never heard of the term "homunculus" before but the fellow in the top picture reminds me of a lecturer I had at university - Dr McEwan who specialised in Victorian poetry. The only difference was that he tended to wear clothes.
ReplyDeleteOh, dear, poor man!
DeleteBabies have come a long way, Baby.
ReplyDeleteNow we know what's causing it and why . . .
DeleteAnd yet, women were blamed if they only gave birth to daughters. Additionally, women were also blamed if a marriage didn’t produce children. In a bizarre way, this belief would have benefited women-maybe?
ReplyDeleteIf women had had equal rights and voice, they might have benefited, but look at mediaeval modern societies in the Middle East - women have no rights, no privileges, no voice. This was the case for women in the western world until the 20th century. Women have always been disregarded and despised.
DeleteFascinating!
ReplyDeleteThey had to find a way to try and explain conception, but look at how women were still the receivers, not the givers, the passive, not the active.
DeleteYou share the most amazing facts. Thank you so much! They are always enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteHomunculus is one of my favourite words - I've always been fascinated by it. Abominable homunculus is a particular expression of mine to describe men who aren't really men, who are inadequate bullies and cowards.
DeleteThis should absolutely be taught in high school biology as a precursor to studying the human reproductive system. It's fascinating and kids would find it fascinating too (plus help them connect scientific knowledge to history and epistemology and hone their debunking skills). Off now to be that guy (semi-retired educator) who will share this as a fun-fact with visiting friends, haha.
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is that some of the former, now inaccurate, information will stick with some!
DeletePerhaps it's me but Homunculus is not an easy word to say!
ReplyDeleteFascinating read, thank you.
All the best Jan
Some words trip us up - different difficult words for different people. 🤣
DeleteOne never knows what one will find here!
ReplyDeleteFascinating!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they're not real.😲
DeleteHomunculus wasn't a term I'd come across before, so thank you for enlightening me once again! xxx
ReplyDeleteI just find it interesting.
DeleteThat word will be spinning around in my head all day now :-)
ReplyDeleteSorry about that . . . 🤣
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