Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694), Founder of Microanatomy

Abstract

Marcello Malpighi, (1628-1694), Italian physician, anatomist, botanist, histologist and biologist developed methods to study living things by using the newly invented microscope to make a number of important discoveries about living tissue and structures, and initiated the science of microscopic anatomy. For almost 40 years he used the microscope to describe major types of plant and animal structures and, in doing so, discovered major areas of research in botany, embryology, human anatomy and pathology for future generations of biologists. He provided anatomical basis for eventual understanding of human physiological exchanges. Marcello Malpighi was the founder of microanatomy. Many microscopic anatomical structures are named after him: the basal layer, renal corpuscles, as well as insect excretory organs.