Gabrielle Fallopius

This article is part of the series "A Moment in History" where we honor those who have contributed to the growth of medical knowledge in the areas of anatomy, medicine, surgery, and medical research.

Gabrielle Fallopius
Gabrielle Fallopius

Gabrielle Fallopius (1523 - 1563) also known as Gabrielle Falloppia, was born close to Modena, Italy. He was for some years a priest in the service of the Church, among others as a  at Modena's cathedral, but soon turned to medicine. He received his medical degree in 1548 from the University of Ferrara when he was only 25 years old. A professor of human anatomy and surgery at the University of Padua, he was (as Vesalius) critical of the anatomy of Galen. He is known for his accurate description of the uterine tubes, salpinx, or oviducts, which carry his eponym, as the "Fallopian tubes".

His anatomical studies were focused on the anatomy on the head, where he added much to the knowledge of the internal ear and the ethmoid bone.

Less known is the accurate description he made of the inguinal ligament, later named after Francois Poupart. He published only one book during his lifetime, the "Observationes Anatomicae" in 1561. His collected works were published after his death.

Original image in the public domain, courtesy of Images from the History of Medicine