The neuroanatomical plates of Guido da Vigevano.
Guido da Vigevano was an Italian physician and engineer who lived in the 13th and 14th centuries. He was the first scientist who used pictures to illustrate his anatomical descriptions, developing for the first time a close relationship between anatomical studies and artistic drawings. This was further developed in the Renaissance. In his textbook Anathomia are displayed six plates showing for the first time neuroanatomical structures and techniques: dissection of the head by means of trephination, and depictions of the meninges, cerebrum, and spinal cord. On the surface of the brain painting it is possible to recognize a vague patterning of cortical convolutions. Ventricles are also described and shown. This book constituted the first attempt in the history of neuroscience to illustrate an anatomical description with schematic pictures to achieve a better understanding of such complex structures.
Di Ieva
Antonio
A
Department of Neurosurgery, Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS, Milan, Italy. diieva@hotmail.com
Tschabitscher
Manfred
M
Prada
Francesco
F
Gaetani
Paolo
P
Aimar
Enrico
E
Pisano
Patrizia
P
Levi
Daniel
D
Nicassio
Nicola
N
Serra
Salvatore
S
Tancioni
Flavio
F
Arosio
Massimo
M
Rodriguez y Baena
Riccardo
R
D000368:Aged; D000716:Anatomy, Artistic; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008488:Medical Illustration; D009445:Neuroanatomy / Q000266:history*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology*