Vesalius Refounds Anatomy

What happened

Also in 1543, the 28-year-old anatomist Andreas Vesalius (born 1514) published On the Fabric of the Human Body (De humani corporis fabrica). He described every structure of the body from his own dissections of human cadavers rather than from ancient texts, illustrated with detailed engravings, and showed that parts of the long-revered anatomy of Galen were simply wrong.

Why it matters

Vesalius made direct observation the foundation of anatomy, overturning centuries of received authority and helping launch the scientific study of the human body.

Sources

• U.S. National Library of Medicine (Circulating Now). Andreas Vesalius and De Fabrica · Reputable source