Marcello Malpighi

(10 March 1628 – 29 November 1694)

Invisible World of the Human Body and Plants

Those discoveries of previously invisible tissues turned a new light on the human body. His microscopic
findings formed a great foundation for what you study today during biology classes and in medical
school; therefore, he is seen as the father of microscopic anatomy.

Much of what we know about the human body was discovered by Malpighi. But his most famous
discoveries where:

• the taste sensors on the human tongue, which explained how saliva is excreted and taste is
perceived;

• the study of different skin layers, which explained the pigmentation mechanism;

• the structure of the lungs, which explained how air and blood are mixed in the lungs; and

• the central nervous system connection between the spinal cord and the brain.

Antecedent

Marcello Malpighi, (born March 10, 1628, Crevalcore, near Bologna, Papal States [Italy]—died Nov.
30, 1694, Rome), Italian physician and biologist who, in developing experimental methods to study
living things, founded the science of microscopic anatomy. After Malpighi’s researches, microscopic
anatomy became a prerequisite for advances in the fields of physiology, embryology, and practical
medicine. He is referred to as the "Founder of microscopical anatomy, histology & Father of physiology
and embryology".