Varolius

Varolius (Constanzo Varolio, Varolius, 1543-75), known Italian anatomist; born in Bologna, where he received his medical education and later became professor of anatomy and surgery. In 1573 he moved to Rome as professor of philosophy (sapienza), and 2 years later died in the prime of his life. In the history of anatomy, V. immortalized himself through thorough research on the brain and cranial nerves. In 1572 in Padua his work "De nervis opticis non-nullisque aliis praeter communem opinionem in humano capite observatis epistola" ("Letter on the optic nerves and some others observed in the human head, beyond common opinion") was printed; as an addition to this work, after V.'s death, "Anatomiae sive de resolutione corporis humani libri quatuor" ("Four books on the dissection of the human body") appeared in Frankfurt in 1591. In anatomical terminology there is the Varolian bridge (pons Varoli).