For The World Anatomy Day: How Many Animals Are Present In The Frontispiece Of De Humani Corporis Fabrica? And Their Possible Meaning

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the frontispiece of Andreas Vesalius’ De Humani Corporis Fabrica, examining the editions related to this work and counting the number of animal species different from Homo sapiens sapiens, as well as their possible meaning. It was found that the number of animals depicted ranges between 7 and 9, depending on the edition, a figure that differs from what has been reported by other authors over time. The hypothesis regarding the physiological meaning related to Macaca sylvanus (Barbary macaque) is also challenged, since the work is eminently anatomical rather than physiological.