In 1803-1805 on the Toomemägi hill by the project of architect I. V. Krause was built anatomikum. As another building was built later, the earlier one was called the old anatomikum, and the one built later was called the new one.
The Old Anatomikum, built in a simple classical style, was built on the Dome rampart bastion. The central circular part of the building was built first - rotunda, which stood on a square base. The structure was enlivened by 8 windows, a balcony with a wrought iron railing decorated with garlands, as well as the very common common in classicist times, urns.
Almost the entire interior is occupied by a single room, two and a half storeys high. The ceiling of the hall is supported by 8 columns decorated with wreaths. Formerly the walls of the hall were decorated with emblems made in grisaille. However, today they can't be seen can't be seen today, as they were later covered with plaster.
It soon became necessary to expand the anatomikum. According to the plan of the same architect I. V. Krause in 1825-1827, 2 side two-storey wings were built, which were connected to the rotunda by halves, thus forming a complex of buildings in the form of a semicircle. In 1856-1860 the building was again decided to expand. This time the architect of the project was K. Rathaus. However, this time the extension was not very successful. The size of the extension did not correspond to the proportions anatomimicum and spoilt the overall appearance.
In addition to the large hall in the rotunda there was a kitchen, preparation rooms, dead room, which had a special machine for lifting and delivering corpses to the the round hall. Anatomical and pathological preparations were also stored here.
The premises of the anatomikum have been used by many medical scientists have worked in the premises of the anatomikum throughout its history, two of whom are commemorated by plaques on the wall of the of the building. One of the plaques is dedicated to the renowned physician Prof Rudolf Buchheim. In the upper part is a bas-relief of the scientist, and underneath it is an inscription, dedicated to the professor. The scientist worked at the university for 20 years. He is rightly the founder of modern pharmacology. In 1847, he was the first person in the world to establish a pharmacological laboratory and equipped it accordingly. The laboratory he created became a model and an example for other institutions.
The second memorial plaque is dedicated to Nikolai Nilovich Burdenko, who who worked here from 1901 to 1918. He was president of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, doctor of medical sciences, professor and academician.
