Medical Terminology Daily (MTD) is a blog sponsored by Clinical Anatomy Associates, Inc. as a service to the medical community. We post anatomical, medical or surgical terms, their meaning and usage, as well as biographical notes on anatomists, surgeons, and researchers through the ages. Be warned that some of the images used depict human anatomical specimens.

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A Moment in History

Andreas Vesalius Bruxellensis (1514- 1564)

A Flemish anatomist and surgeon, Andreas Vesalius was born on December 31, 1514 in Brussels, Belgium. He is considered to be the father of the science of Anatomy. Up until his studies and publications human anatomy studies consisted only on the confirmation of the old doctrines of Galen of Pergamon (129AD - 200AD). Anatomy professors would read to the students from Galen's work and a demonstrator would point in a body to the area being described, if a body was used at all. The reasoning was that there was no need to dissect since all that was needed to know was already written in Galen's books. Vesalius, Fallopius, and others started the change by describing what they actually saw in a dissection as opposed to what was supposed to be there. 

Vesalius had a notorious career, both as an anatomist and as a surgeon. His revolutionary book "De Humani Corporis Fabrica: Libri Septem" was published in May 26, 1543. One of the most famous anatomical images is his plate 22 of the book, called sometimes "The Hamlet". You can see this image if you hover over Vesalius' only known portrait which accompanies this article. Sir William Osler said of this book "... it is the greatest book ever printed, from which modern medicine dates" 

After the original 1543 printing, the Fabrica was reprinted in 1555. It was re-reprinted and translated in many languages, although many of these printings were low-quality copies with no respect for copyright or authorship.

The story of the wood blocks with the carved images used for the original printing extends into the 20th century. In 1934 these original wood blocks were used to print 617 copies of the book "Iconaes Anatomica". This book is rare and no more can be printed because, sadly, during a 1943 WWII bombing raid over Munich all the wood blocks were burnt.

One interesting aspect of the book was the landscape panorama in some of his most famous woodcuts which was only "discovered" until 1903.

Vesalius was controversial in life and he still is in death. We know that he died on his way back from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but how he died, and exactly where he died is lost in controversy. We do know he was alive when he set foot on the port of Zakynthos in the island of the same name in Greece. He is said to have suddenly collapsed and die at the gates of the city, presumably as a consequence of scurvy. Records show that he was interred in the cemetery of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, but the city and the church were destroyed by an earthquake and Vesalius' grave lost to history. Modern researchers are looking into finding the lost grave and have identified the location of the cemetery. This story has not ended yet.

For a detailed biography of Andreas Vesalius CLICK HERE.

Personal note: To commemorate Andrea Vesalius' 500th birthday in 2014, there were many scientific meetings throughout the world, one of them was the "Vesalius Continuum" anatomical meeting on the island of Zakynthos, Greece on September 4-8, 2014. This is the island where Vesalius died in 1564. I had the opportunity to attend and there are several articles in this website on the presence of Andreas Vesalius on Zakynthos island. During 2015 I also attended a symposium on "Vesalius and the Invention of the Modern Body" at the St. Louis University. At this symposium I had the honor of meeting of Drs. Garrison and Hast, authors of the "New Fabrica". Dr. Miranda

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Book: "La Forma Humana de la línea"

Published: Monday, December 09, 2024 07:00 | Written by: Efrain A. Miranda, Ph.D. | Hits: 208

Book Cover, cropped
Book cover, cropped


I recently added a new book to my library. It is in Spanish and titled "La Forma Humana de la Línea", which can be loosely translated to "The Human Form of the Line", referring to the hand-drawn images of human skeletal anatomy in the book.

"La forma humana de la línea" Katherine Estrada Suazo. ISBN 9789564021898, 2020. América Impresores. Valdivia, Chile

This is an extraordinary book that depicts in 90 pages and 40 plates the human bony anatomy in beautiful detail using a technique described by Leonardo Da Vinci in his “Trattato della Pittura” (A Treatise on Painting), chapter CXXVI. The author, Katherine Estrada Suazo, draws in hyperrealist detail single bones, a full skeleton, fetal skeletons in a seldom seen detail.

The introduction, the words of the artist, the analysis of Leonardo Da Vinci's technique, and the closing comments are a rare form of high level prose with mastery of the Spanish language that reads almost like poetry.

The book itself is a printing marvel. An uncommon large size (9½ by 15¾ inches/24 by 40 cm.), in a high quality acid-free heavy paper, with beautiful typesetting. The book also includes one large insert measuring 29½ by 9 inches (75 by 23 cm).

This work was supported by Morphology Professor, Patricia Hernández Coliñir at the Anatomy Unit of the Medical School of the Universidad Austral de Chile in the city of Valdivia, where it was printed by the América Impresores printing press. The author also received support from the Chilean government through the Regional FONDART (Regional Ministerial Secretary of Culture, Arts and Heritage). As far as I understand, this book is not for sale, which makes it a rare book.

I became aware of this book at the XLIII Annual Chilean Meeting of Anatomy, where I was invited to present the conference I delivered initially in May 2023 at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. An anatomy professor of the Universidad Austral de Chile, Ana Barriga K., had a copy of the book that was gifted to Dr. Carlos Machado, a good friend and famous medical illustrator of Netter’s Anatomy Atlas.

The road to obtaining the copy of the book included contacting the author and with the help of Professor Barriga, and a friend from Chile, the book went from Valdivia (Chile) to Santiago (Chile), to Mexico, and the US. This copy is dedicated by the author as follows: “Dedicated to Dr. Efrain Miranda. Signed in Valdivia, June 2024”, followed by her signature.

In a recent conversation with the author, she stated that "restricting access to this publication was never my intention", and although having the signed book for me is very important, Ms. Estrada has authorized the open download of the digital edition of the book in PDF format, which you can download here. (19 Mb)

Personal remark: As a side note, the city of Valdivia in Chile, where this book was designed and printed, is the city where my mother was born. Dr. Miranda


Lámina1: Cráneo, vista súperolateral


Recientemente agregué un nuevo libro a mi biblioteca. Está en español y se titula "La Forma Humana de la Línea", en referencia a las imágenes dibujadas a mano de la anatomía esquelética humana que aparecen en el libro.

"La forma humana de la línea" Katherine Estrada Suazo. ISBN 9789564021898, 2020. América Impresores. Valdivia, Chile

Este es un libro extraordinario que describe en 90 páginas y 40 láminas la anatomía ósea humana con hermoso detalle utilizando una técnica descrita por Leonardo Da Vinci en su “Trattato della Pittura” (Tratado sobre la pintura), capítulo CXXVI. La autora, Katherine Estrada Suazo, dibuja con detalles hiperrealistas huesos individuales, un esqueleto completo y esqueletos fetales con un detalle pocas veces visto.

La introducción, las palabras del artista, el análisis de la técnica de Leonardo Da Vincy y los comentarios finales son una forma poco común de prosa de alto nivel con dominio del lenguaje español que se lee casi como poesía.

El libro en sí es una maravilla de impresión. Un tamaño grande poco común (9½ por 15¾ pulgadas/24 por 40 cm.), en un papel pesado libre de ácido de alta calidad, con una hermosa composición tipográfica. El libro también incluye un inserto grande que mide 29½ por 9 pulgadas (75 por 23 cm).
Este trabajo fue apoyado por la Profesora de Morfología, Patricia Hernández Coliñir en la Unidad de Anatomía de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Austral de Chile en la ciudad de Valdivia, donde también fue impreso por la imprenta América. El autor también recibió apoyo del gobierno de Chile a través del Fondart Regional (Secretaría Regional Ministerial de Cultura, las Artes y el Patrimonio). Según tengo entendido, este libro no está a la venta, lo que lo convierte en un libro raro.

Me enteré de este libro en la XLIII Reunión Anual Chilena de Anatomía, donde me invitaron a presentar la conferencia que di inicialmente en mayo de 2023 en la Universidad de Amberes, Bélgica. Una profesora de anatomía de la Universidad Austral de Chile, Ana Barriga K., tenía una copia del libro que fue obsequiada al Dr. Carlos Machado, un buen amigo y famoso ilustrador médico del Atlas de Anatomía de Netter.

El camino para obtener la copia del libro incluyó contactar al autor y con la ayuda de la profesora Barriga y un amigo de Chile, el libro viajó desde Valdivia (Chile) a Santiago (Chile), a México y a los Estados Unidos. Este ejemplar está dedicado por la autora de la siguiente manera: “Dedicado al Dr. Efraín Miranda. Firmado en Valdivia, junio de 2024”, seguido de su firma.

En una reciente conversación con la autora, ella afirmó que “nunca fue mi intención restringir el acceso a esta publicación”, y aunque tener el libro  firmado para mí es muy importante, la autora ha autorizado la descarga abierta de la edición digital del libro en formato PDF, que pueden descargar aquí. (19 Mb)

Observación personal: Como nota al margen, la ciudad de Valdivia en Chile donde se diseñó e imprimió este libro, es la ciudad donde nació mi madre. Dr. Miranda.