History of Printing Medical Texts
The Work of Andreas Vesalius
Andreas Vesalius (31 December 1514 – 15 October 1564) was a Renaissance physician in the 16th century who played a major role in advancing the study of anatomy through his most famous work, De humani corporis fabrica libri septem. Vesalius believed that anatomy could only be taught and learned through dissection and observation,[1] which was reflected in his detailed anatomical models and descriptions. His conception of the human body as a system of interconnected parts pioneered a new method of studying and teaching anatomy that closely resembles modern practices.[2]
De humani corporis fabrica libri septem
Vesalius' magnum opus, De humani corporis fabrica libri septem, was a collection of seven different books that each focused on a different compenent of the human body:
- The Bones and Cartilages
- The Ligaments and Muscles
- The Veins and Arteries
- The Nerves
- The Organs of Nutrition and Generation
- The Heart and Associated Organs
- The Brain
Vesalius' work was not renowned its content, but rather for the 250+ detailed illustrations of the human body. Fabrica was printed using woodblock engravings, which allowed for very precise and detailed illustrations. [3] The first book A very well-preserved copy of the Vesalius' De humani corporis fabrica libri septem can be found in the World Digital Library.
Resources
- ↑ Baigrie, Brian S. Scientific Revolutions : Primary Texts In the History of Science. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004.
- ↑ Cambiaghi, Marco. "Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564)." Journal of Neurology, vol. 264, no. 8, 2017, pp. 1828-1830.
- ↑ Goree, John A. "The Woodblocks of Vesalius and the Printings: From the Renaissance to the Modern Era." Printing History, no. 16, 2014, pp. 3.