Collection

Skeleton showing the effects of leprosy

Made:
1250-1500 in Denmark

Skeleton, mature female, showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Details

Category:
Anatomy & Pathology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A635011
Materials:
bone and complete
type:
human remains and skeleton
credit:
Wellcome Trust

Parts

Left and right foot showing effects of leprosy

Left and right foot showing effects of leprosy

Left and right foot showing effects of leprosy, from a skeleton from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

More

The right and left feet show the devastating effects of leprosy on the bones of the body. This erosion and damage, caused by the decay of protective fatty tissue, does not occur in all cases.

These feet are believed to be from an adult female buried in a Danish leprosy cemetery attached to a leper hospital. Those with leprosy were social outcasts due to fear of catching the disfiguring disease and it appears the same happened in death. However, similar skeletal remains have been found in graveyards not attached to leper hospitals.

Materials:
bone , human remains and plexiglass
Object Number:
A635011/1
type:
human remains , skeleton and leprosy
Mature female skull with mandible

Mature female skull with mandible

Skull with mandible and vomer, showing effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, now in St. Jorgen's churchyard, reputedly c.1350, discovered 1930-1967

Materials:
bone and human remains
Object Number:
A635011/2
type:
human remains and skeleton
Mature female cranium (skull)

Mature female cranium (skull)

Cranium from skull, showing effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, now in St. Jorgen's churchyard, reputedly c.1350, discovered 1930-1967

Materials:
bone and human remains
Object Number:
A635011/2/1
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/2
Mature female mandible (jaw bone)

Mature female mandible (jaw bone)

Mandible (jaw bone) showing effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, now in St. Jorgen's churchyard, reputedly c.1350, discovered 1930-1967

Materials:
bone and human remains
Object Number:
A635011/2/2
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/2
Mature female vomer (nose bone)

Mature female vomer (nose bone)

Vomer (small thin bone from the nose), in 3 fragments. From skeleton showing effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, now in St. Jorgen's churchyard, reputedly c.1350, discovered 1930-1967

Materials:
bone and human remains
Object Number:
A635011/2/3
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/2
Bones, section of skeleton showing effects of leprosy

Bones, section of skeleton showing effects of leprosy

Arm, leg, pelvis, right and left hands, vertebrae, shoulder blades, kneecaps, collar bones, ribs and miscellaneous small bones from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3
type:
human remains and skeleton
Right clavical (collarbone) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy

Right clavical (collarbone) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy

Right clavical (collarbone) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 30 mm x 145 mm x 20 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/1
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Right scapula (shoulder blade) with large hole in blade from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy

Right scapula (shoulder blade) with large hole in blade from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy

Right scapula (shoulder blade) with large hole in blade from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 170 mm x 245 mm x 80 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/2
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Left scapula (shoulder blade) with small hole and large crack in blade from a mature female skeleton

Left scapula (shoulder blade) with small hole and large crack in blade from a mature female skeleton

Left scapula (shoulder blade) with small hole and large crack in blade from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/3
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Right ribs from female skeleton

Right ribs from female skeleton

Seven right ribs, two of which are broken, from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/4
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Left ribs from female skeleton

Left ribs from female skeleton

Ten left ribs from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/5
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Vertibrae (spine) from female skeleton

Vertibrae (spine) from female skeleton

Vertibrae (spine) consisting of 24 pieces including C1-C7 (cervical) , T1- T12 (thoracic) and L1-L5 (lumbar) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/6
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Manubrium of the sternam (breastbone) from female skeleton

Manubrium of the sternam (breastbone) from female skeleton

Manubrium of the sternam (breastbone). Top roughly triangular shaped section from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 55 mm x 75 mm x 18 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/7
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Corpus sterni of the sternam (breastbone) from female skeleton

Corpus sterni of the sternam (breastbone) from female skeleton

Corpus sterni of the sternam (breastbone). Long flat section with notches along the edges. Broken into two parts. From a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 115 mm x 40 mm x 10 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/8
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Right humerus (top arm bone) from female skeleton

Right humerus (top arm bone) from female skeleton

Right humerus (top arm bone) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 360 mm x 70 mm x 35 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/9
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Right Ulna (forearm bone) from female skeleton

Right Ulna (forearm bone) from female skeleton

Right Ulna (forearm bone) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 290 mm x 35 mm x 30 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/10
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Right Radius (forearm bone) from female skeleton

Right Radius (forearm bone) from female skeleton

Right Radius (forearm bone). Broken into two pieces. From a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 270 mm x 35 mm x 20 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/11
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Right hand bones from female skeleton

Right hand bones from female skeleton

Right hand bones, consisting of wrist bones and metacarpals glued together, as well as 11 phalanges from multiple fingers. From a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall:
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/12
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Left humerus (top arm bone) from female skeleton

Left humerus (top arm bone) from female skeleton

Left humerus (top arm bone) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 360 mm x 70 mm x 35 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/13
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Left Ulna (forearm bone) from female skeleton

Left Ulna (forearm bone) from female skeleton

Left Ulna (forearm bone) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 290 mm x 35 mm x 30 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/14
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Left Radius (forearm bone) from female skeleton

Left Radius (forearm bone) from female skeleton

Left Radius (forearm bone) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 270 mm x 35 mm x 20 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/15
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Left hand bones from female skeleton

Left hand bones from female skeleton

Left hand bones, consiting of wrist bones and metacaples glud together into two pieces, as well as 12 phalanges from multiple fingers. From a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall:
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/16
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Pelvic girdle from female skeleton

Pelvic girdle from female skeleton

Pelvic girdle, consisting of a sacrum, and the left and right os caxae, all glued together as one. From a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 240 mm x 285 mm x 150 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/17
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Right femur (upper leg) from female skeleton

Right femur (upper leg) from female skeleton

Right femur (upper leg) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 500 mm x 80 mm x 45 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/18
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Right patella (knee cap) from female skeleton

Right patella (knee cap) from female skeleton

Right patella (knee cap) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 42 mm x 45 mm x 17 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/19
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Right tibia from female skeleton

Right tibia from female skeleton

Right tibia (bigger of the two lower leg bones), glued to the right fibula. From a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 405 mm x 75 mm x 65 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/20
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Right fibula from female skeleton

Right fibula from female skeleton

Right fibula (smaller of the two lower leg bones), glued to the right tibia. From a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 390 mm x 20 mm x 15 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/21
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Left femur (upper leg) from female skeleton

Left femur (upper leg) from female skeleton

Left femur (upper leg) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 500 mm x 80 mm x 45 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/22
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Left patella (knee cap) from female skeleton

Left patella (knee cap) from female skeleton

Left patella (knee cap) from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 42 mm x 45 mm x 17 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/23
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Left tibia (bigger of the two lower leg bones) from female skeleton

Left tibia (bigger of the two lower leg bones) from female skeleton

Left tibia (bigger of the two lower leg bones), glued to the left fibula. From a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 405 mm x 75 mm x 65 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/24
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Left fibula (smaller of the two lower leg bones), from female skeleton

Left fibula (smaller of the two lower leg bones), from female skeleton

Left fibula (smaller of the two lower leg bones), glued to the left tibia. From a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 390 mm x 20 mm x 15 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/25
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Phalange (small finger or toe bone) from female skeleton

Phalange (small finger or toe bone) from female skeleton

Phalange (small finger or toe bone), from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 23 mm x 18 mm x 10 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/26
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Wrist or an ankle bone from female skeleton

Wrist or an ankle bone from female skeleton

One of two wrist or ankle bones from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 15 mm x 26 mm x 15 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/27
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3
Wrist or ankle bone from female skeleton

Wrist or ankle bone from female skeleton

Bone two of two wrist or ankle bones from a mature female skeleton showing the effects of leprosy, from a medieval Danish leprosy cemetery, reputedly c.1350

Measurements:
overall: 10 mm x 26 mm x 15 mm,
Materials:
bone
Object Number:
A635011/3/28
type:
human remains and skeleton
Part of:
A635011/3

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