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Microscopic anatomy
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The foundations of microscopic anatomy were laid in the 17th C., first by Federico Cesi and Francesco Stelluti in Apiarium, then by Giovanni Battista Hodierna in Occhio della mosca and Marco Aurelio Severino in Zootomia Democritaea. But its full potential was developed by Marcello Malpighi. Just as Galileo had initiated with the telescope the exploration of the great machine of the universe, so Malpighi set out with the microscope to reveal the hidden structure of the machine of the human body.

In the 17th C., thanks to René Descartes and Giovanni Alfonso Borelli, the new method of mechanistic physiology progressively replaced old Galenic medicine. The causes of organic functions were henceforth sought in the minute structure of organs—in the secret mechanisms of the fibers, fluids, and particles revealed by the microscope. In 1665, Robert Hooke was the first to observe plant cells, although his discovery had no practical consequence. This concept of the workings of life reached its apogee with Giovanni Battista Morgagni, who laid the foundations of modern pathological anatomy.

Thanks to the combination of "subtle" anatomy and of microscopic magnification, all of human and animal anatomy was rewritten in a short period of time: Thomas Bartholin discovered the lymph vessels; Malpighi observed the alveolar structure of the lungs, the papillar receptors of the tongue and the direct connection between arteries and veins; he also identified red blood cells and gave a precise description of the first phases of the embryonic development of the chick; Lorenzo Bellini revealed the structure and function of kidneys; Francesco Redi illustrated the extraordinary complexity of the organization of insects; Thomas Wharton formulated the theory of glands as secretory organs; Niels Stensen and Giovanni Alfonso Borelli described the dynamics of muscular movement; Thomas Willis and, later, Albrecht von Haller investigated the structure of the nervous system and the dynamics of neuro-muscular functions.

Objects
Chest type compound microscope

Chest type compound microscope

Inv. 3230
Peter Dollond, London, late 18th cent.

Compound and simple microscope

Compound and simple microscope

Inv. 2664, 3217
Andrew Pritchard, London, ca. 1835

Compound and simple microscope, chest type

Compound and simple microscope, chest type

Inv. 3210
James Ayscough, London, second half 18th cent.

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 1223
George Adams senior, London, ca. 1770

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 2649
Maker unknown, Italian, 1832-1862

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 2660
Maker unknown, Italian, 1845

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3172
Maker unknown, French, late 19th cent.

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 2663
Maker unknown, Italian, 1832-1862

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 2661
Angiolo Poggiali [attr.], Italian, 1860-1880

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3201
Giovanni Battista Amici, Modena, 1827-1831

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3205
Georg Friedrich Brander, Augsburg, ca. 1765

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 2662 (scatola), 3223
Maker unknown, Italian, 1832-1862

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3327
G. & S. Merz firm, Munich, ca. 1870

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3283
Nachet & Fils firm, Paris, ca. 1870

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3268
Edmund Hartnack, Potsdam, ca. 1880

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3267
Maker unknown, Italian, 1860-1880

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3259
Smith, Beck & Beck firm, London, ca. 1858

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3248
Pietro Patroni [attr.] or François de Baillou [attr.], Italian, early 18th cent.

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3247
Maker unknown, Italian, late 17th cent.

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3241
Maker unknown, Italian, ca. 1845

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3238
Maker unknown, Italian, 1832-1862

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 480, 3219, 3221
George Adams junior, London, ca. 1790

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3447
Maker unknown, French?, mid-19th cent.

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3385
Maker unknown, Italian, 1832-1862

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3206
Pietro Patroni, Milan, 1726

Compound microscope

Compound microscope

Inv. 3203
Giovanni Battista Amici, Modena, ca. 1827

Compound microscope, binocular

Compound microscope, binocular

Inv. 2659
Maker unknown, Italian, ca. 1855

Compound microscope, binocular

Compound microscope, binocular

Inv. 3258
R. & J. Beck firm, London, ca. 1865

Compound microscope, demonstration

Compound microscope, demonstration

Inv. 2672
Maker unknown, German?, late 19th cent.

Compound microscope, demonstration

Compound microscope, demonstration

Inv. 3208
Nachet firm, Paris, 1880-1892

Compound microscope, dissecting

Compound microscope, dissecting

Inv. 2648
Nachet & Fils firm, Paris, ca. 1875

Compound microscope, Galilean

Compound microscope, Galilean

Inv. 3429
Giuseppe Campani [attr.], Italian, second half 17th cent.

Compound microscope, inverted

Compound microscope, inverted

Inv. 2655 bis
Angiolo Poggiali, Italian, ca. 1868

Lucernal and compound microscope

Lucernal and compound microscope

Inv. 502, 1457, 3222 (scatola), 3243 (microscopio)
George Adams junior, English, ca. 1791

Nuremberg compound microscope

Nuremberg compound microscope

Inv. 3390
Maker unknown, German, first half 19th cent.

Optical compendium

Optical compendium

Inv. 2681, 2682, 2683, 2684
Robert Banks, London, ca. 1811

Reflecting microscope

Reflecting microscope

Inv. 3171
Giovanni Battista Amici, Modena, 1815-1825

Reflecting microscope

Reflecting microscope

Inv. 3200
Giovanni Battista Amici, Modena, 1815-1825

Reflecting microscope

Reflecting microscope

Inv. 3209
Giovanni Battista Amici [attr.], Italian, 1815-1825

Simple microscope, aquatic

Simple microscope, aquatic

Inv. 3098
Chapotot, Paris, ca. 1700

Simple microscope, aquatic

Simple microscope, aquatic

Inv. 3233
Maker unknown, Italian?, second half 18th cent.

Simple microscope, dissecting

Simple microscope, dissecting

Inv. 3212
Peter Dollond (microscope), John Cuff (micrometer), London, ca. 1760-1770

Simple microscope, dissecting

Simple microscope, dissecting

Inv. 3324
Carl Kellner, Wetzlar, 1855-1869

Simple microscope, pocket

Simple microscope, pocket

Inv. 3239
Maker unknown, French or Dutch?, early 19th cent.

Solar microscope

Solar microscope

Inv. 3229
Isidoro Gaspare Bazzanti, Italian, 1760

Solar microscope

Solar microscope

Inv. 795
Peter Dollond, London, ca. 1800