The carotid and vertebral arteries discovery ­ initial findings / A descoberta das artérias carótidas e vertebrais ­ achados iniciais

The studies on the vascular system, including the cervicocephalic arteries (carotid and vertebral arteries), present a long trajectory, having their deep roots in the far past, considering the Western authors, having as representatives the Greek sages Alcmaeon, Diogenes, Hippocrates, Aristoteles, Rufus, and Galenus. They produced pivotal knowledge dissecting mainly cadavers of animals, and established solid bases for the later generations of scholars. The information assembled from these six authors makes it possible to build a quite clear picture of the vascular system, here specifically focused on the cervicocephalic arteries, and mainly of the extracranial segments. Thus, the carotid system became fairly well identified, origin, course, and name, as well as the origin of the still unnamed arteries running through the orifices of the transversal processes of the cervical vertebrae, and entering into the cranium. Almost all that was then known about human anatomy, since this period, and then throughout the Middle Ages, was extrapolated from animal dissections. This state of affairs was maintained until the 14th century, when human corpses dissections were again allowed.

Os estudos do sistema vascular, incluindo as artérias cervicocefálicas (artérias carótidas e vertebrais), apresentam um longo percurso, tendo suas raízes profundas no passado distante, considerando os autores ocidentais, tendo como representantes os doutos gregos Alcméon, Diógenes, Hipócrates, Aristóteles, Rufus e Galenus. Eles produziram conhecimento pivotal, dissecando principalmente cadáveres de animais e estabelecendo bases sólidas para as gerações futuras de estudiosos. A informação reunida desses seis autores permite construir um quadro bastante claro do sistema vascular, aqui focado especificamente nas artérias cervicocefálicas e principalmente nos seus segmentos extracranianos. Assim, o sistema carotídeo ficou bastante bem identificado, origem, trajeto e nome, assim como a origem das ainda não nomeadas artérias que percorrem os orifícios dos processos transversos das vértebras cervicais e entrando no crânio. Quase tudo que era conhecido sobre anatomia humana, desde esse período, e depois ao longo da Idade Média, foi extrapolado a partir de dissecções de animais. Esse estado de coisas foi mantido até o século 14, quando a dissecção de cadáveres humanos foi novamente permitida.

Evolução cronológica do conhecimento neuroanatômico / Chronological evolution of neuroanatomical knowledge

Desde a antiguidade, o pensamento científico evoluiu em fases e este artigo faz uma análise histórica sucinta sobre o avanço do conhecimento neuroanatômico. Assim, foi feita uma análise temporal que não somente permite uma descrição dessa evolução, bem como esclarece o modo e a profundidade com que as estruturas foram sendo compreendidas. A descrição das descobertas neuroanatômicas subdividida em quatro fases temporais distintas permitiu compreender a evolução do pensamento neurológico e as correlações existentes entre os relatos.

Since ancient times, the scientific thinking evolved in stages, and thisarticle is a brief historical analysis of the progress of the neuroanatomical knowledge. Consequently, a temporal analysis not only provides a description of this evolution, as explained by the manner and depth with which the structures were being understood. The description of the neuroanatomical finfings subdivided into four distinct temporal phases allowed to understand the evolution of neurological thought and the correlations between the reports.

Contribuciones de Wilhelm his a la embriología humana / Contributions of Wilhelm his to human embryology

Wilhelm His (1831-1904) gran anatomista y embriólogo suizo, profesor de la cátedra de anatomía de la Universidad de Basilea y Universidad de Leipzig. His, realizó el primer intento de estudiar los distintos estadios del embrión humano en su totalidad. Para tal fin, introdujo importantes avances tecnológicos que permitieron una comprensión más detallada del embrión humano, marcando un hito en el desarrollo de la embriología como ciencia. En este trabajo se resumen las principales contribuciones de Wilhelm His en el campo de la embriología humana. Uno de sus principales aportes fue la invención del micrótomo en 1866, el cual permitió reconstruir el embrión a partir de secciones histológicas. Otro de sus grandes inventos fue el denominado embriógrafo, instrumento que posibilitó la visualización de cortes histológicos en bajos aumentos y su reconstrucción sobre un papel. Además, fue pionero en intentar seleccionar los embriones humanos colectados presumiblemente en orden de su desarrollo. Dividió el desarrollo humano en estadios, estableciendo normas a partir de las relaciones entre forma y tamaño característicos de cada estadio. Gran parte de sus descubrimientos sobre el desarrollo del embrión humano se encuentran plasmados en el trabajo titulado Anatomie der Menschlichen Embryonen (1880-1885). La noble tarea de dilucidar la anatomía del embrión humano fue posible gracias este conjunto de innovaciones tecnológicas y metodológicas y su perseverante trabajo. Debido a sus grandes aportes en el campo de la embriología se le confiere el nombre de "Vesalius de la embriología humana".

Wilhelm His (1831-1904), a great Swiss anatomist and embryologist, professor of anatomy at the university of Basel and the university of Leipzig. His, made the first attempt to study the different stages of the total human embryo. For that purpose he introduced important technological advances that allowed a more detailed understanding of the embryo, setting a landmark in the development of embryology as a science. This paper summarizes the main contributions of Wilhelm His in the field of human embryology. One of his major contributions was the invention of the microtome en 1866, which allowed the reconstruction of the embryo from histological sections. Another one of his great inventions was the so-called embryograph, an instrument that allows viewing histological sections at low magnification and reconstructing them on paper. He was also a pioneer in attempting to select human embryos presumably collected in their order of development. He divided human development into stages, establishing standards from the relations between the shape and size characteristic of each stage. A large part of his discoveries on the development of the human embryo is found in his work titled Anatomie der Menschlichen Embryonen (1880-1885). The noble task of elucidating the anatomy of the human embryo was possible thanks to a set of technologicals and methodological innovations and his persevering work. Because of his great contributions in the field of embryology he is given the name of "Vesalius of human embryology".

Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694), Founder of Microanatomy / Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694), Fundador de la Microanatomía

Marcello Malpighi, (1628-1694), Italian physician, anatomist, botanist, histologist and biologist developed methods to study living things by using the newly invented microscope to make a number of important discoveries about living tissue and structures, and initiated the science of microscopic anatomy. For almost 40 years he used the microscope to describe major types of plant and animal structures and, in doing so, discovered major areas of research in botany, embryology, human anatomy and pathology for future generations of biologists. He provided anatomical basis for eventual understanding of human physiological exchanges. Marcello Malpighi was the founder of microanatomy. Many microscopic anatomical structures are named after him: the basal layer, renal corpuscles, as well as insect excretory organs.

Marcelo Malpighi, (1628-1694), médico italiano, anatomista, botánico, histólogo y biólogo, usando el microscopio, recientemente inventado en esa época, desarrolló métodos para estudiar organismos vivos, con lo cual contribuyo al inicio del desarrollo de la ciencia de la anatomía microscópica. Por casi 40 años Malpighi utilizó el microscopio para describir los tipos principales de estructuras de algunas plantas y animales, facilitando el inicio de campos de investigación importantes en botánica, embriología, anatomía humana y patología. Marcelo Malpighi fue fundador de la anatomía microscópica. Muchas estructuras anatómicas microscópicas se nombran en su honor, como; la capa de Malpighi, los corpúsculos renales, así como los túbulos renales.