CELEBRATING 500 YEARS OF
ANDREAS VESALIUS( FATHER OF MODERN ANATOMY
Today we take for granted our
knowledge of human anatomy. We can thank early scientists, such as the
16th-century anatomist Andreas Vesalius, who struggled to discover, record, and
publish the inner structure and fabric of the human body.
Vesalius revolutionized the science of anatomy by basing his
findings on direct observation of the body itself, rather than on centuries-old
wisdom. Until Vesalius' day, the study of anatomy consisted of expounding the
texts of Galen, an ancient Greek physician. We know now that Galen based much
of his knowledge on animal dissection, and so his description of human anatomy
was inaccurate. Yet his texts were considered infallible, even sacred, and were
the main source of knowledge about the human body for 1,500 years. To question
their authority required great courage. The Health Sciences
Library (HSL) is hosting “The Fabric of the Human Body: Celebrating 500
Years of Andreas Vesalius” exhibit in the display cases near the Columbia
Street entrance from now until April. The exhibit explores the history of
the study of human anatomy from ancient Egypt to the present day, including the
works of Andreas Vesalius, Leonardo da Vinci, William Hunter and Frank Netter.
The exhibit also features examples of current resources available at the HSL.
Born in 1514, Andreas Vesalius is often
referred to as the founder of mondern human anatomy. He authored ”De
humani corporis fabrica libri septem” (or, “On the fabric of the human body in
seven works”) in 1543. The HSL has a copy of this classic in its Special
Collections. In 2013, Karger Medical & Scientific
Publishers released a two-volume annotated translation of Vesalius’
1543 landmark publication to commemorate Vesalius’ 500th birthday.
Prof. John Kurakar
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