Inclusive Anatomy
History
Historical Timeline
1500
1561
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]
1627
Giulio Casserio
Giulio Casserio was the first to draw the circle of Willis in his treatise Tabulae anatomicae.[2]
1647
Johann Vesling
The cerebral vasculature at the base of the brain was accurately illustrated by Johann Vesling in his book, Syntagma.[3]
1658
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]
1664
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]
Present
Eponym History
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]
Thomas Willis — Image obtained from Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
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]
References
Dumitrescu AM, Costea CF, Cucu AI, et al. 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):959-965.
Wessel A. Historical Sketch Casserius and the secret of the cicada’s voice. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift. 2013;60(2):135-146.
Ghosh SK. Johann Vesling (1598–1649): Seventeenth century anatomist of Padua and his Syntagma Anatomicum. Clinical Anatomy. 2014;27(8):1122-1127.
Wolpert SM. The circle of Willis. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 1997;18(6):1033-1034.
Willis T. Cerebri anatome : cui accessit nervorum descriptio et usus. Londini : typis Ja. Flesher, impensis Jo. Martyn & Ja. Allestry apud insigne Campanae in Coemeterio D. Pauli; 1664.
Wragge-Morley A. Imagining the soul: Thomas Willis (1621-1675) on the anatomy of the brain and nerves. Progress in Brain Research. 2018;243:55-73.
Hilde De Ridder-Symoens. A History of the University in Europe. Vol 1. Cambridge University Press; 1988.
Dumitrescu M. Theatrum Anatomicum and the Baroque Vision on Death. European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences. 2016;15:317-322.
Purver M. The Royal Society: Concept and Creation. Routledge; 1967.