Andreas Vesalius and anatomy: a re-evaluation of his efforts.

One of t h e g r e a t e s t f igures in t h e h i s to ry of a n a t o m y is Andreas Vesal ius . I n 1543, h is m a s s i v e book, De Humani Corporis Fabrica, appea red ; i t a l t e r e d t h e h i s to ry of a n a t o m y a n d sc ience in m a n y w a y s . The Fabrica is of ten p r e s e n t e d by h i s t o r i a n s a s t h e or ig in poin t of m o d e r n a n a t o m y . Analysis of a n a t o m i c a l s tud ie s j u s t p r io r to Vesa l ius sugges t s t h i s m i g h t no t be t h e case . F r o m s t u d i e s of t hese ea r l i e r pre-Vesal ian w o r k s it wil l be d e m o n s t r a t e d h e r e t h a t a h igh level of a n a t o m i c a l soph i s t i ca t ion exis ted. I t wil l be a r g u e d t h a t Vesa l ius w a s n o t a n ind iv idua l w h o o n e day a r r i v e d on the scene a n d comple te ly revolu t ion ized ana­ t o m y : R a t h e r , m u c h as sc ien t i s t s h a v e done h is tor ica l ly , h e bu i l t upon a s t ead i ly g rowing founda t ion of a n a t o m y la id a n d developed by t h e a n a t o m i s t s before h i m . T h e e n d r e su l t of today ' s t a lk provides a novel scient i f ic p r e s e n t a t i o n of Vesa l ius ' con t r ibu t ions in f o r m i n g t h e Fabrica, as we l l a s a d i f ferent i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of h is to­ r i ca l c u r r e n t s t h a t affected a n a t o m y in t h e s ix t een th cen tu ry .