title: Frederik Ruysch (1638-1731): Historical perspective and contemporary analysis of his teratological legacy.
abstract: The Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) in Saint Petersburg is the oldest museum in Russia. It keeps the remains of the anatomical collection of the world-famous 17th century Dutch anatomist Frederik Ruysch. This unique collection was bought and shipped in 1717 by Czar Peter the Great, and presently still comprises more than 900 specimens, a modest number of which concerns specimens with congenital anomalies. We searched for teratological clues in the existing collection and in all his descriptions and correspondence regarding specimens and cases he encountered during his career as doctor anatomiae and chief instructor of the surgeons and midwives in Amsterdam. A total of 63 teratological specimens and case descriptions were identified in this legacy, including some exceedingly rare anomalies. As it turns out, Ruysch was the first to describe several of the conditions we encountered, including intracranial teratoma, enchondromatosis, and Majewski syndrome. Although his comments pose an interesting view on how congenital anomalies were scientifically perceived in early 18th century Europe, Ruysch mostly refrained from explaining the causes of the conditions he encountered. Instead, he dedicated himself to careful descriptions of his specimens. Almost 300 years after his demise, Ruysch's legacy still impresses and inspires both scientists and lay men. © 2016 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Museum for Anatomy and Pathology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boer
authors.affiliation: Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
authors.forename: Anna B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Radziun
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Physiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roelof-Jan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Oostra
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000266:history; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000266:history; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology*; D005197:Famous Persons; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D009144:Museums; D009232:Myxoma / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology; D009426:Netherlands; D012426:Russia; D013724:Teratoma / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology; D014428:Twins, Conjoined / Q000473:pathology
keywords: 17th century; Frederik Ruysch; Hirschsprung disease; Kunstkamera; Meckel diverticulum; Peter the Great; acardiac twins; anatomical specimen; ciliary chondrodysplasia; cleft lip/palate; conjoined twins; disorganization-like syndrome; enchondromatosis; gastric teratoma; holoprosencephaly; hydatifom mole; hydrocephaly; intracranial teratoma; limb reduction defects; neural tube closure defects; omental teratoma; teratology; umbilical angiomyxoma; urogenital anomalies; ventral body wall defects