title: Andreas Vesalius' five hundreth anniversary: initiation of the rotator cuff concept.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The rotator cuff concept refers to the four scapulohumeral muscles that stabilize and rotate the humerus relative to the scapula. To date, the first description of the rotator cuff remained unidentified.
  
  
  METHODS
  In light of the 500th birthday of Andreas Vesalius (1515-1564) we searched his 1543 masterwork "Fabrica Corporis Humani Libri Septem" for references to the morphology and function of the rotator cuff muscles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Even though he distinguished three rather than four scapulohumeral muscles, Vesalius recognized the need for structures that prevent dislocation of the shoulder inherent to the morphology of the humeral caput and scapular socket. He recorded "three strong ligaments" and the "three muscles that rotate the arm" of which the tendons completely "embrace the ligaments of the joint" as such structures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vesalius defined the rotator cuff concept avant la lettre.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 161, NL-1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Romy J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Brinkman
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 161, NL-1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.hage@nki.nl.
authors.forename: J Joris
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hage
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000266:history*; D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D001530:Belgium; D049669:History, 16th Century; D006801:Humans; D017006:Rotator Cuff; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: Andreas Vesalius; Rotator cuff; Shoulder; Surgical anatomy