The typical anatomy amphitheatre of the Renaissance is a grisly and intimate setting for public dissection of cadavers.

The concentric circles represent tiers where students stood looking down on the table where the conducting surgeon worked. Students in the first tier were close enough to the action to become involved in it.

The elevation view shows how tightly packed the participants were, shoulder to shoulder up several tiers leaning forward to look over the ring(s) below to observe the anatomist’s every move. The conducting surgeon did not have to raise his voice for everyone to hear.