Adriaan van den Spiegel (1578–1625): Anatomist, physician, and botanist

Abstract

Adriaan van den Spiegel (1578-1625) was a Flemish anatomist and physician. He was one of the most prominent anatomists at the University of Padua during the 17th century and became professor of anatomy and surgery there in 1619. He was privileged to have two of the most accomplished anatomists of that period, Fabricius ab Aquapendente and Iulius Casserius, as his teachers. His anatomical works were published after his death by his pupil Bucretius and his son-in-law Liberalis Crema, with illustrations procured from Casserius's unpublished anatomical atlas. He contributed significantly to establishing basic morphological facts about the developing embryo in his text De formato foetu liber singularis. In his book De humani corporis fabrica libri decem, Spiegel's lobe (caudate lobe) of the liver and the linea semilunaris (Spiegel's line) on the lateral side of the rectus abdominis muscle were described for the first time. Subsequently, Spigelian aponeurosis (between the lateral margin of the rectus abdominis and the linea semilunaris) and Spigelian hernia (lateral ventral hernia) were named after him. He was a renowned physician in his time and was the first to give a detailed description of malaria. He made significant contributions as a botanist: the genus Spigelia, which has six species, is named after him.

Sella turcica: an anatomical, endocrinological, and historical perspective

“…In fact, it was not until the first half of the 17th century that the term sella turcica appeared: The real designation of the term was introduced to the anatomical nomenclature by the anatomist, physician, and botanist Adrian van der Spieghel, widely known by the Latin name Adrianus Spigelius in his famous work De Corpora Humanis Fabrica, which was published 2 years after his death in 1627 [24][25][26]. Spigelius compared the depression on the upper surface of the sphenoid bone with a Turkish saddle, which is characteristic in shape, as previously mentioned.…”

Rare Case of Incarcerated Bilateral Spigelian Hernia in Ghana: A Case Report and Literature Review

“…Spigelian hernia was named after Adriaan van der Spieghel who was the first anatomist to describe the semilunar line in 1645 [1]. A detailed description of the hernia was later made by Joseph Klinkosh in 1764 [1]. It is caused by herniation through a defect in the spigelian fascia.…”

Adrianus Spigelius’ (1578 – 1625) Ocular Anatomy

“…Historical Article marilandica were used as a remedy against intestinal parasites. Apart from his other pioneering work in medicine, his contribution to ocular anatomy has a distinct place in the history of medicine and anatomy (4).…”