Andreas Vesalius as a renaissance innovative
                                        neuroanatomist: his 5<sup>th</sup> centenary of
                                        birth

Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) is considered the Father of Modern Anatomy, and an authentic representative of the Renaissance. His studies, founded on dissection of human bodies, differed from Galeno, who based his work on dissection of animals, constituted a notable scientific advance. Putting together science and art, Vesalius associated himself to artists of the Renaissance, and valued the images of the human body in his superb work De Humani Corporis Fabrica.This paper aims to honor this extraordinary European Renaissance physician and anatomist, who used aesthetic appeal to bind text and illustration, science and art. His achievements are highlighted, with an especial attention on neuroanatomy. Aspects about his personal life and career are also focused.

neuroanatomy; history of medicine; Vesalius

Authorship

Marleide da Mota Gomes

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Neurologia Deolindo Couto, Programa de Epilepsia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroBrazilRio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Neurologia Deolindo Couto, Programa de Epilepsia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil

Mauricio Moscovici

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Anatomista, Professor titular (aposentado), Rio de Janeiro RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroBrazilRio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Anatomista, Professor titular (aposentado), Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil

(*)The authors are sorry to notify that Professor Moscovici died on 25th September, 2014. The present paper now represents a homage to the personality, his life and deeds.

Eliasz Engelhardt

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Neurologia, Unidade de Neurologia Cognitiva e Comportamental, Rio de Janeiro RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroBrazilRio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Neurologia, Unidade de Neurologia Cognitiva e Comportamental, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Rio de Janeiro RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroBrazilRio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil

Correspondence
: Marleide da Mota Gomes; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Neurologia Deolindo Couto; Av. Venceslau Braz, 95; 22290-140 Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brasil; E-mail: mmotagomes@acd.ufrj.br

^(*)The authors are sorry to notify that Professor Moscovici died on 25^th September, 2014. The present paper now represents a homage to the personality, his life and deeds.

Conflict of interest: There is no conflict of interest to declare.

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures

Figures (4)

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Figure 1
Vesalius Portrait (Vesalius's Fabrica, 1555)⁷7 Vésale A. Andreae Vesalii,... de humani corporis fabrica libri septem... Basel: J. Oporinus; 1555 [cited 2014 July 23]. Available from: http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/livanc/?cote=00302a&do=pdf
http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/l... .

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Figure 2
Illustrations from Vesalius' Fabrica (1555)⁷7 Vésale A. Andreae Vesalii,... de humani corporis fabrica libri septem... Basel: J. Oporinus; 1555 [cited 2014 July 23]. Available from: http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/livanc/?cote=00302a&do=pdf
http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/l... . Skeletons and their expressive postures.

Thumbnail

Figure 3
Illustrations from Vesalius' Fabrica (1555)⁷7 Vésale A. Andreae Vesalii,... de humani corporis fabrica libri septem... Basel: J. Oporinus; 1555 [cited 2014 July 23]. Available from: http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/livanc/?cote=00302a&do=pdf
http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/l... . Series of brains (description in ^{Box
2} Box 2. Neuroanatomical observations from the Fabrica and the Epitome1,3,7,8. The Fabrica is an extended and profusly illutrated book, while the Epitome, appears in a condensed format. Vesalius begins the chapter of the Epitome, concerning The Brain and the Nervous System, with the statement: The brain, the seat of the animal and the principal faculty, lies in the skull and admirably fits the form of the cavity in the upper region of the head which it occupies throughout its length. Some excerpts, cited in a abridged form, follow. The opening of the vault of the cranium shows (Figures 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D) the cerebrum protected by a though membrane (dura mater), and after its removal, right and left parts of the brain, joined at the midlinebase, and continuous with the dorsal medulla (oblongata and spinalis) may be seen. The dura mater sends a fold between the two parts of the cerebrum (falx cerebri), and between the cerebrum and the cerebellum (tentorium cerebelli). The exposed cerebrum permits to see the internal structures in axial sections at several levels; the upper level reveals two large cavities (lateral ventricles), the cortical convolutions, subcortical white matter, caudate nucleus, thalamus, and the choroid plexus; a deeper level shows subcortical structures, as the thalamus, globus pallidus, putamen and caudate nucleus, internal and external capsules, and the intervening white matter, as well as the cerebral cortex. Ablating the posterior part of the cerebrum reveals the cerebellum and the upper brain stem, and after flipping anteriorly the cerebellum, the entire brain stem and upper spinal cord are disclosed. Internally, the lateral ventricles are in connection with the 3rd one, and the latter continues with a canal (acqueduct) that ends in the 4th ventricle. Inside the ventricles may be seen a plexus or network (choroid plexus). The septum (septum pellucidum), corpus callosum, the vault (fornix), and the cerebellum, and their relation with these cavities are described. A basal view of the cerebrum reveals the seven pairs of nerves (cranial nerves), the 1st pair represent the optic nerves, which end in the tunic of the eye. The organ of smell (olfactory tract and bulb), not classified as a nerve, is described at the base of the brain. Then Vesalius continues with detailed description of the cranial, spinal, and peripheral nerves (Figures 4A, 4B and 4C). He also offers functional considerations proper of his time, citing the phlegm of the brain and its flow through a funnel shaped channel (infundibulum) down to the nostrils, after having been destilled by a quadrate gland (pituitary gland). And follows with the reflection that the vital spirit adapted in the plexus, and from the air drawn to the ventricles by the breath, the inborn force of the brains substance creates the animal spirit of which the brain makes use partly for the functions of the chief portion of the mind. ).

Thumbnail

Figure 4
Illustrations from Vesalius' Fabrica (1555)⁷7 Vésale A. Andreae Vesalii,... de humani corporis fabrica libri septem... Basel: J. Oporinus; 1555 [cited 2014 July 23]. Available from: http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/livanc/?cote=00302a&do=pdf
http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/l... . Peripheral nervous system (A and B: Cranial nerves; C: Spinal nerves).

Figure 1 Vesalius Portrait (Vesalius's Fabrica, 1555)⁷7 Vésale A. Andreae Vesalii,... de humani corporis fabrica libri septem... Basel: J. Oporinus; 1555 [cited 2014 July 23]. Available from: http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/livanc/?cote=00302a&do=pdf
http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/l... .

Figure 2 Illustrations from Vesalius' Fabrica (1555)⁷7 Vésale A. Andreae Vesalii,... de humani corporis fabrica libri septem... Basel: J. Oporinus; 1555 [cited 2014 July 23]. Available from: http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/livanc/?cote=00302a&do=pdf
http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/l... . Skeletons and their expressive postures.

Figure 3 Illustrations from Vesalius' Fabrica (1555)⁷7 Vésale A. Andreae Vesalii,... de humani corporis fabrica libri septem... Basel: J. Oporinus; 1555 [cited 2014 July 23]. Available from: http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/livanc/?cote=00302a&do=pdf
http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/l... . Series of brains (description in ^{Box
2} Box 2. Neuroanatomical observations from the Fabrica and the Epitome1,3,7,8. The Fabrica is an extended and profusly illutrated book, while the Epitome, appears in a condensed format. Vesalius begins the chapter of the Epitome, concerning The Brain and the Nervous System, with the statement: The brain, the seat of the animal and the principal faculty, lies in the skull and admirably fits the form of the cavity in the upper region of the head which it occupies throughout its length. Some excerpts, cited in a abridged form, follow. The opening of the vault of the cranium shows (Figures 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D) the cerebrum protected by a though membrane (dura mater), and after its removal, right and left parts of the brain, joined at the midlinebase, and continuous with the dorsal medulla (oblongata and spinalis) may be seen. The dura mater sends a fold between the two parts of the cerebrum (falx cerebri), and between the cerebrum and the cerebellum (tentorium cerebelli). The exposed cerebrum permits to see the internal structures in axial sections at several levels; the upper level reveals two large cavities (lateral ventricles), the cortical convolutions, subcortical white matter, caudate nucleus, thalamus, and the choroid plexus; a deeper level shows subcortical structures, as the thalamus, globus pallidus, putamen and caudate nucleus, internal and external capsules, and the intervening white matter, as well as the cerebral cortex. Ablating the posterior part of the cerebrum reveals the cerebellum and the upper brain stem, and after flipping anteriorly the cerebellum, the entire brain stem and upper spinal cord are disclosed. Internally, the lateral ventricles are in connection with the 3rd one, and the latter continues with a canal (acqueduct) that ends in the 4th ventricle. Inside the ventricles may be seen a plexus or network (choroid plexus). The septum (septum pellucidum), corpus callosum, the vault (fornix), and the cerebellum, and their relation with these cavities are described. A basal view of the cerebrum reveals the seven pairs of nerves (cranial nerves), the 1st pair represent the optic nerves, which end in the tunic of the eye. The organ of smell (olfactory tract and bulb), not classified as a nerve, is described at the base of the brain. Then Vesalius continues with detailed description of the cranial, spinal, and peripheral nerves (Figures 4A, 4B and 4C). He also offers functional considerations proper of his time, citing the phlegm of the brain and its flow through a funnel shaped channel (infundibulum) down to the nostrils, after having been destilled by a quadrate gland (pituitary gland). And follows with the reflection that the vital spirit adapted in the plexus, and from the air drawn to the ventricles by the breath, the inborn force of the brains substance creates the animal spirit of which the brain makes use partly for the functions of the chief portion of the mind. ).

Figure 4 Illustrations from Vesalius' Fabrica (1555)⁷7 Vésale A. Andreae Vesalii,... de humani corporis fabrica libri septem... Basel: J. Oporinus; 1555 [cited 2014 July 23]. Available from: http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/livanc/?cote=00302a&do=pdf
http://www2.biusante.parisdescartes.fr/l... . Peripheral nervous system (A and B: Cranial nerves; C: Spinal nerves).

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