FALLOPIO, Gabriele

(1523-1562)

Gabriele Fallopio, an Italian anatomist, advanced Renaissance medicine with his descriptions of the ear, the reproductive organs, and the musculature of the head and by refuting ancient authorities such as Aristotle and Galen. Born in Modena, Fallopio was first educated in the classics, but later studied medicine. After a brief and unsuccessful practice in surgery, he continued his medical studies at Ferrara, where he was appointed to the chair of pharmacy. In 1549 he took the chair of anatomy at the University of Pisa, where he was falsely accused of practicing human vivisection. In 1551 he accepted the prestigious chair of anatomy at Padua as successor to Matteo Colombo and Andreas Vesalius.*

Numerous works attributed to Fallopio were actually lecture notes that were edited for publication after his death and therefore may not be fully authentic. However, his Observationes anatomicae (Anatomical Observations) of 1561, a commentary on the De humani corporis fabrica (On the Structure of the Human Body) of Vesalius, is important because it corrects some observations of his predecessor. By dissecting cadavers of infants and fetuses, he advanced the understanding of the ossification of the occiput and sternum, as well as the origin and development of primary and secondary teeth. He improved Vesalius's ac­count of the structure of the ear and provided detailed accounts of the muscles of the face and scalp, as well as the muscles for chewing and those governing the larynx. He correctly opposed erroneous ancient views regarding blood flow, but denied Vesalius's correct account of venous valves.

In addition to works on anatomy, he wrote about syphilis, surgery, and the production of drugs. His detailed accounts of female anatomy contributed greatly to the understanding of reproduction. He coined the word "vagina" and dis­proved popular misconceptions about coition. His accurate description of the tubes connecting the uterus and ovaries resulted in their name.

Bibliography

C. D. O'Malley, in Dictionary of Scientific Biography, ed. C. Gillespie, vol. 4, 1981: 519-21.

Tim McGee