title: Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564), Padua, and the fetal "shunts".
abstract: Three remarkable medical anatomists working in Padua during the 16th century described the anatomy of the fetal cardiovascular system, thus laying the foundation for William Harvey's discovery and description of the fetal circulation in the following century.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, University of Bristol, Southmead Hospital, Southmead, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK. P.M.Dunn@Bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D004626:Embryology / Q000266:history*; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply*; D049669:History, 16th Century; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy