Andreas Vesalius
Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564), a Flemish anatomist and physician, made important contributions to the study of human anatomy. His book On the Structure of the Human Body, or Fabrica (1543), was the first manual of human anatomy with clear and detailed illustrations. Vesalius is often called the founder of human anatomy.
An innovative teacher, Vesalius performed dissections on human corpses as he taught. The traditional method of instruction had been for the teacher to read from a prepared text while an assistant did the dissection. Vesalius also popularized the use of drawings to help make anatomy lectures more easily understood.
Vesalius had been trained in anatomy from the widely accepted writings of Galen, a physician who practiced medicine in the A.D. 100's. However, through his many dissections, Vesalius found errors in Galen's theories. In Fabrica, Vesalius corrected many of these theories, including Galen's description of the sternum (breastbone). The book also contains the first accurate descriptions of the small bones of the head and ear, and excellent illustrations of the muscles and skeleton. Modern anatomy textbooks are modeled on Fabrica.
Excerpt adapted from the "Andreas Vesalius" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999