De visione, voce et auditu: the contribution of Hieronymous Fabricius to our understanding of tensor tympani function

This work reviews the literature concerning the life and scientific contributions of Hieronymous Fabricius (1533-1619). We also analyze the translated Latin text that focuses on the middle ear muscles from a first edition of Fabricius' book entitled 'De Visione, Voce et Auditu' (The Vision, Voice and Hearing, 1600).

Hieronymous Fabricius was one of the first scientists to introduce structure-function relationships in anatomic research. Better known for his descriptions of venous valves and human fetal development, his major contribution to otology was his theory on tensor tympani (TT) function. The TT is 1 of 2 middle ear muscles whose function has undergone a long period of speculation since its discovery by Vesalius (1514-1564) and description by Eustachius (1510-1574). Fabricius' theory of TT physiology was described in his treatise 'De Visione, Voce et Auditu' (1600). He wrote that the TT "protected" the tympanic membrane and helped in middle ear ventilation. In the 20th century, the development of the acoustic impedance measuring bridge by Otto Metz (1905-1993) allowed for the first objective measurements of middle ear function. Experiments on human subjects with various ear pathologies confirmed that the stapedius was the dominant sound evoked middle ear muscle. However, Fabricius' original theory on the TT's role in middle ear ventilation persists to this day based on recent physiologic, embryologic, and histologic studies.

Hieronymous Fabricius was a pioneer in approaching anatomy from a structure-function relationship, and was an active proponent for maximizing the learning environment for students. Fabricius' writings provided the foundation for contemporary theories on the role of the TT, and he proposed those ideas during an era when great strides were being made to increase our understanding of ear anatomy and physiology.