All of the images you see above are drawn from a simply marvelous collection of anatomical illustrations tracing the evolution of medical knowledge in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868) as found on the Pink Tentacle website.

To see the complete set of images (well worth it, I promise!) and read more about them, check out the original piece by clicking here.

Brief captions, top to bottom:

1. Pregnancy illustrations, circa 1860
2. Anatomical illustrations (artist/date unknown)
3. Kaishihen (Dissection Notes), 1772
4. Breast cancer treatment, 1809
5. Zoku Y?ka Hiroku (Sequel to Confidential Notes on the Treatment of Skin Growths), 1859
6. Zoku Y?ka Hiroku (Sequel to Confidential Notes on the Treatment of Skin Growths), 1859
7. Zoku Y?ka Hiroku (Sequel to Confidential Notes on the Treatment of Skin Growths), 1859
8. Female dissection, 1774
9. Female dissection, 1774
10. Illustration from 1759 edition of Z?zu
11. Kaishihen (Dissection Notes), 1772
12. Seyakuin Kainan Taiz?zu (circa 1798)