title: The Structure and Function of the Central Nervous System and Sense Organs in the Canon of Medicine by Avicenna.
abstract: Ibn Sina (1037 AD), also known as Avicenna in the West, is recognized as one of the forefathers of modern medicine. He was widely accepted as an influential and leading scientific figure of the medieval ages. His book the "Canon of Medicine" collected all aspects of medical knowledge available from ancient Greek and Muslim sources and also added his own. The medical information he collected ranged from basic medical sciences to applied and specialized medical fields.  In the current vignette, we present an analysis of the basic anatomy of the brain, spinal cord and some sense organs as presented in the Canon of medicine and compare their relevance in modern medical practice and human anatomy knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Anatomical Sciences, The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Pedzisai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazengenya
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, School of Natural Medicine, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhikha
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008514:Medicine, Arabic / Q000266:history*; D012679:Sense Organs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology*