title: Renaissance Neurosurgery: Italy's Iconic Contributions.
abstract: Various changes in the sociopolitical milieu of Italy led to the increasing tolerance of the study of cadavers in the late Middle Ages. The efforts of Mondino de Liuzzi (1276-1326) and Guido da Vigevano (1280-1349) led to an explosion of cadaver-centric studies in centers such as Bologna, Florence, and Padua during the Renaissance period. Legendary scientists from this era, including Leonardo Da Vinci, Andreas Vesalius, Bartolomeo Eustachio, and Costanzo Varolio, furthered the study of neuroanatomy. The various texts produced during this period not only helped increase the understanding of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology but also led to the formalization of medical education. With increased understanding came new techniques to address various neurosurgical problems from skull fractures to severed peripheral nerves. The present study aims to review the major developments in Italy during the vibrant Renaissance period that led to major progress in the field of neurosurgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. Electronic address: ananda@lsuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurosurgery, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
authors.forename: Imad Saeed
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Apuzzo
mesh_terms: D049668:History, 15th Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D009445:Neuroanatomy / Q000266:history; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000266:history*
keywords: Andreas Vesalius; Bartolomeo Eustachio; Berengario da Carpi; Costanzo Varolio; Gabriele Ferrara; Italy; Leonardo Da Vinci; Michelangelo Buonarroti; Renaissance neurosurgery