Giambattista Canano

Giambattista Canano (1515–1579) was a notable physician and anatomist during the 16th century. He was a professor at the University of Ferrara and personal physician to the Duke of Ferrara. He was a colleague of Andreas Vesalius and Vesalius attributes to Canano the first observation of valves of veins, a crucial discovery that would lead to the understanding of the circulatory system.

He published one volume of his own writings on anatomy, but only four copies were made and he never completed the later volumes. He may have been discouraged by the great success of Vesalius' De humani corporis fabrica, which covered the same subjects Canano was working on.

Only a few copies survive. One notable inclusion is that Canano seems to be the first to have discovered the palmaris brevis muscle, predating the work of Realdo Colombo who claimed to be the discoverer.

References[]

• Tubbs, R.S.; Shoja, M.M.; Loukas, M.; Agutter, P. (2019). History of Anatomy: An International Perspective. Wiley. ISBN 978-1-118-52425-1. Retrieved 2021-05-05.