Instrumental: Collections from Science

The next iteration of of our ongoing exhibition, Instrumental: Collections from Science includes a range of tools that physiologists and students have used to understand the functions, mechanisms, and internal processes of living organisms and their parts.

Physiology teaching began at Sydney University by 1884, after Anderson Stuart became the Professor of Anatomy and Physiology and led the establishment of the medical school the year prior. From the outset, experimentation and the use of physiological instruments were included as part of the curriculum.

Physiology is the scientific study of how living things function. It became an independent discipline during the 19th century, spurred by increasing experimentation, teaching, new professional journals and societies, and advancements in instrumentation – including the invention of key recording instruments like the kymograph, sphygmograph, myograph, and more.