Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026
07:08
Modified Drop Tower Impact Tests for American Football Helmets
Published on: February 19, 2017
Aulus Cornelius Celsus and the Head Injuries
Giuseppe Talamonti1, Giuseppe D'Aliberti1, Marco Cenzato1
1Department of Neurosurgery, ASST Niguarda, Milan, Italy.
World Neurosurgery
|October 1, 2019
Summary
Aulus Cornelius Celsus, a Roman medical writer, authored "De Medicina," the first Latin medical textbook. His work detailed inflammation, surgical techniques, and head injuries, influencing medicine for two millennia.
Area of Science:
- Ancient Medicine
- History of Surgery
- Medical Terminology
Background:
- Aulus Cornelius Celsus, a Roman encyclopedist, authored "De Medicina" during the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius.
- His work was the first medical textbook written in Latin and the first medical treatise to be printed.
Observation:
- Celsus described the cardinal signs of inflammation (dolor, rubor, calor, tumor).
- He coined the term "cancer" and reported innovative surgical techniques.
- His eighth book extensively detailed head injuries, including extradural hematomas and intracranial damage.
Findings:
- Celsus provided the first description of brain swelling beyond the skull.
- He outlined surgical indications and craniotomy techniques.
- He recommended treatments for depressed fractures, previously considered untreatable, and described surgical instruments.
Implications:
- "De Medicina" synthesized Greek medical knowledge with Celsus's original observations and criticisms.
- Despite being overlooked in the Middle Ages, his concepts significantly impacted medical knowledge for two millennia.
- Celsus's contributions highlight the enduring legacy of early scientific and medical writing.
Keywords:
CelsusCraniotomyExtradural hematomasHead injuriesHistory of neurosurgeryNeurotraumatologyRoman medicineMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
01:27Cranial Bones: Lateral View
The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
01:18Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles
There are hollow fluid-filled cavities known as ventricles deep inside the human brain. There are two lateral ventricles, one in each cerebral hemisphere, and each has three different projections — the anterior, inferior, and posterior horns visible from the lateral side. A thin membrane called the septum pellucidum separates the two lateral ventricles. The slender third ventricle in the diencephalon is connected to each lateral ventricle via a channel called the interventricular foramen. The...
01:26Arteries of the Head and Neck
The human body's intricate network of arteries ensures that every organ system receives the necessary oxygen and nutrients for optimal function. The arterial network in the head and neck region is particularly complex, providing vital blood flow to the brain, eyes, and other critical structures. Prominent arteries in this region include the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries.
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
01:14Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology
Spinal cord injury progresses through two interconnected phases: primary injury and secondary injury.Primary InjuryPrimary injury happens at the moment of trauma and involves immediate mechanical damage to the spinal cord.Compression happens when broken vertebrae, herniated discs, or accumulating blood (such as a hematoma) press directly against the spinal cord, distorting its normal shape and function. In cases of contusion, the cord is bruised by a blunt force (like penetrating injuries or...