Citations

British anatomical physiology in the early 19th century evolved from the work of William Harvey, Thomas Willis, and William Hunter, who emphasized cerebral functional localization, integrating physiology and anatomy. This novel perspective was championed by Herbert Mayo (1796–1852). A student of Charles Bell at the Middlesex Hospital in London, Mayo subsequently became a surgeon there in 1818 and later a professor of anatomy and surgery. His experiments on the motor functions of the seventh cranial nerve and sensorimotor functions of the fifth cranial nerve brought him renown. Mayo, inspired by Johann Christian Reil, also conducted the first accurate brainstem dissections, developed innovative tissue preservation methods, and provided detailed descriptions of key fiber tracts. Mayo’s 1822–1823 Anatomical and Physiological Commentaries and 1827 A Series of Engravings Intended to Illustrate the Structure of the Brain and Spinal Chord in Man accurately depicted the corona radiata, cerebellar peduncles, and uncinate fascicle. In his 1842 book, The Nervous System and Its Functions , Mayo discussed the localization of higher brain functions. His dissections remained unmatched until Josef Klingler’s work in 1934. Despite the quality of his work, Mayo has been largely neglected, possibly because of his tumultuous relationship with Bell and later professional difficulties. Nevertheless, Mayo significantly contributed to white matter anatomy and led the search for cerebral localization, subsequently impacting neurosurgery. This article examines his life and work.

Anatomic teaching has long informed surgical knowledge, experience, and skills. One tool for teaching that emerged during the Renaissance was the fugitive anatomic sheet, which used flap layers to reveal different levels of anatomy. In 1538, Vogtherr introduced the first fugitive sheets, which included illustrations of male and female figures with a torso paper flap that, when lifted, revealed the internal organs in a cartoonish style. The popularity of these anatomic fugitive sheets spurred an increase in small print-and-sale workshops. In 1543, Vesalius included fugitive anatomic sheets in his books Fabrica and Epitome , containing large paper flapped models that could be created by cutting out and gluing images of human internal anatomy onto a base layer. Students could tack these manikins up to a nearby wall during dissection. Significant collaboration between Vesalius and his publisher occurred to coordinate the integration of large foldable sheets featuring the cutout models into his works. Vesalius's groundbreaking discoveries, his use of the most advanced printing techniques, and his innovative teaching style are fundamental aspects of the legacy of medical education. This article shows these remarkable fugitive anatomic sheets from the original publications of Fabrica and Epitome together for the first time. It explores the innovative concepts and applications of Vesalius's unique printings.

Michelangelo’s unparalleled frescoes in the Sistine Chapel have been traditionally construed to represent the traditional, Roman Catholic interpretation of the Seven Days of Creation in the Book of Genesis and the Last Judgement. Indeed, in September 2018, Pope Francis I offered a benediction for the Vatican’s art treasures and for “those who contributed to the Church’s history through art.” A number of studies have suggested that Michelangelo concealed anatomic information about the human brain in his renderings of God and biblical prophets and saints. Was the anatomic content of these images purposeful or coincidental? Was the anatomy intentionally concealed? Is there a common pattern with symbolic connotations in the anatomic representations? Was Michelangelo sending an encoded message? In this study, we analyze the imagery in the Sistine frescoes in light of the literature surrounding Michelangelo’s artistry with a particular interest in the relationship between the certain purported anatomic depictions and details demonstrable using scientific and anatomic techniques available during the High Renaissance.