Andreas Vesalius - Biography.

Andreas Vesalius - Biography. Belgian anatomist and physician Birth December 31, 1514 Death October 15, 1564 Place of Birth Brussels, Belgium Known for Laying the foundation of modern human anatomy Career 1537 Received his medical degree from the University of Padua, Italy 1537 Began lecturing on anatomy at the University of Padua 1543 Published De Humani Corporis Fabrica (On the Structure of the Human Body), a book of anatomical illustrations 1543 Was appointed physician to emperor Charles V of Germany 1559 Accepted a position as court physician to Philip II of Spain Did You Know Vesalius performed his own dissections, instead of observing an assistant, which was the standard practice at that time. Vesalius was one of the first physicians to study human anatomy by dissecting human, instead of animal, corpses. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.