Vesalius

Who was Andreas Vesalius?

A Belgian doctor born in 1514 who worked at the University of Padua, studying bodies by dissection

What book did he publish?

On the Fabric of the Human Body, which explored the human body including accurate drawings of anatomical body parts which was very helpful for doctors

Which of his discoveries contradicted Galen’s?

He found that the human jaw bone was made from one not two bones, and that blood didn’t pass through the septum of the heart

How did Vesalius have a positive impact on the medical world?

His discoveries encouraged other doctors to contradict Galen’s ideas and question Galen’s and even Vesalius’ own ideas and theories! The anatomical accuracy of his book also enabled other medical advances, as it allowed surgeons to develop new operations using their detailed knowledge of the body