Anatomical Collections Innsbruck

Something that fascinates all people is located in the former Institute of Anatomy, today the Medical University, in the Müllerstrasse road in Innsbruck which hosts the Museum of Anatomy Innsbruck (Anatomisches Museum Innsbruck): Human specimens in the form of entire skeletons, skulls, skeletons of vertebrates and various models. Aquarelles and oil paintings of Franz Batke illustrate the building of the skeletons.

The collection with its 1,800 objects includes also old anatomical tools. The dry specimens of Ferdinand Hochstetter (1896-1908) and the skull collection are really particularities of the museum. The latter also includes the artfully painted ossuary skulls which are from various mountain regions of Austria, mainly from Hallstatt in Upper Austria and the Tyrolean Paznauntal valley. A particular skeleton is the one of the giant Nikolaus Haidl. It was found in 1866 in a crypt of the St Jacob Cathedral and is characterized by its height of 2.25 metres.

The University of Innsbruck was already founded in 1672 under Emperor Leopold I., therefore it was named "Leopold Franzens University" until 2003. Between 1887 and 1889 the Institute of Anatomy was arranged. By the way: Did you know, that in the Institute of Anatomy in Innsbruck also Oetzi, the world renowned Ice Man, was studied for seven years (1991-1998)?