History

Back to Main Page

Cerebral Arterial Circle

Anatomy

History

Anatomy

/suh-ree-bruhl ar-tee-ree-uhl sur-kuhl/

Eponym: Circle of Willis

Historical Timeline

1500

1627

Present

Gabriel Falloppio

Gabriel Falloppio was the first to describe the circle of Willis, but he provided an incomplete description of it. He described a union and subsequent division of the vertebral arteries, as well as a union of the internal branches of the carotid artery.[1]

1561

Giulio Casserio

Giulio Casserio was the first to draw the circle of Willis in his treatise Tabulae anatomicae.[2]

Johann Vesling

The cerebral vasculature at the base of the brain was accurately illustrated by Johann Vesling in his book, Syntagma.[3]

1647

Joseph Duverney

Johann Jakob Wepfer made a remarkable description of the arterial circle at the base of the brain in his book titled Historiae apoplecticorum. Although there were no illustrations, Wepfer provided precise details about the carotid artery and its earlier branch.[4]

1658

Thomas Willis

Described by Thomas Willis in his textbook Cerebri Anatome. The name 'Circle of Willis' was coined by one of Willis' pupils, Richard Lower.[5] The Circle of Willis was later referenced by the physiologist Albrecht von Haller.[6]

1664

Eponym:

The cerebral arterial circle was named after physician Thomas Willis (1621-1675). After earning his M.A. from Oxford University, he became a royal physician to Charles I.[6] Robert Hooke, Nathaniel Hodges, and Richard Lower were remarkable scientists who worked with Willis. He held the position of Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy at Oxford University from 1660 until his passing.[7] Meyer & Hieron believe that Johann Jakob Wepfer von Schaffhausen (1620–1695) from Switzerland was the real discoverer of the cerebral arterial circle, six years before Thomas Willis would describe the structure.[8]

Scientific Contributions:

In 1656 and 1659, Willis authored two significant medical works, 'De Fermentatione' and 'De Febribus', in the field of neuroanatomy. His collaborative efforts, including Sir Christopher Wren's drawings, Thomas Millington, and fellow anatomist Richard Lower, led to the coining of the term 'neurology.' In 1667, Willis published 'Pathologicae cerebri, et nervosi generis specimen,' a pivotal work on brain pathology and neurophysiology.[9]

Thomas Willis - Image Obtained From: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

References

Dumitrescu AM, Costea CF, Cucu AI, Dumitrescu GF, Turliuc MD, Scripcariu DV, Sava A. The discovery of the circle of Willis as a result of using the scientific method in anatomical dissection. Romanian Journal of Morphology and Embryology, 2020; 61(3), 959. doi: 10.47162/RJME.61.3.38
Wessel A. Historical sketch: Casserius and the secret of the cicada's voice. Dtsch Entomol Z. 2013;60(2):135-146. doi: 10.1002/mmnd.201300019
Ghosh SK. Johann Vesling (1598–1649): Seventeenth century anatomist of Padua and his Syntagma Anatomicum. Clin Anat. 2014;27(8):1122-1127. doi:10.1002/ca.22362
Wolpert SM. The circle of Willis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1997;18(6):1033.
Willis T. Cerebri anatome: Cui accessit nervorum descriptio et usus. London: Martin and Allestry; 1664.
Symonds C. Thomas Willis, F.R.S. (1621–1675). Prog Brain Res. 1960;15:91-97. doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.10.009
Hilde de Ridder-Symoens, Rüegg W. A History of the University in Europe (1996), p. 547. https://assets.cambridge.org/97805213/61088/frontmatter/9780521361088_frontmatter.pdf
Dumitrescu M. Theatrum Anatomicum and the baroque vision on death. The European Proceedings of Social & Behavioural Sciences (EpSBS) Future Academy; 2016. pp. 317–322.
Margery Purvey, The Royal Society: Concept and Creation, MIT Press, 1967, pp. 138–9. https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9781135028145_A23795981/preview-9781135028145_A23795981.pdf

We strive to ensure the accuracy of all content. If you notice any errors or have suggestions for improvement, please reach out to us so we can review and update the material accordingly.