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Proceedings SNO “LXI Congresso Nazionale SNO”

Figura 9. From Ruysch, Epistola Anato-
mica, 1699.

CASPAR BAUHIN (1560-1624) pub-
lished in 1605 Theatrum anatomi-
cum that was considered as the
finest comprehensive text in anato-
my. His major contribution was the
introduction of a descriptive termi-
nology which replaced the preva-
lent trend of naming the structures
reforming the anatomical nomen-
clature with ordinal numbers and
cleared the confusion among anato-
mists in relation to identification of
structures. He described a thin mén-
inx and choroeidés that reproduces
the shape of the brain.
Although the dura mater and pia Figura 10. From Bidloo, Ontleding des menschelyken lichaams, 1690.
mater were recognised by ancient
anatomists, it was not until 1664
that the arachnoid was officially recognised and of “arachnoid mater” can be attributed in 1692, was
named by the Dutch anatomist GERARDUS BLASIUS perhaps the first to describe and illustrate the full
(1626-1692). He was the first to describe the arach- covering of the brain by this layer with spider-like
noid membrane as “tertia cerebri meninge” as a dis- morphology in 1699, confirming that the arachnoid
tinct layer between the dura and the pia membranes, membrane was a complete layer surrounding the
covering the cortex and the base of the brain and gave brain. He used the term “arachnoid” roughly mean-
it the name of “arachnoid” and its authenticity re- ing “spider-like” and referring to the “web-like”
ceived the imprimatur of the Collegium Medicum structure of this layer covering the cortex and the
Privatum Amstelodamense (1667) entering in formal base of the brain. He described the appearance and
medical nomenclature. the extension of the arachnoid covering the brain sur-
FREDERICK RUYSCH (1638-1731), to whom the term face by blowing air under it (Figure 9).

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