The accomplishment of centuries of science and medical school: The Museo Anatomico in Naples

The establishment of the Museo Anatomico was deeply rooted in centuries of scientific thought and medical education in Naples. Influenced by the legacy of Vesalius, Severino, and Cotugno, it emerged from a tradition of rigorous anatomical study, challenging established doctrines and embracing empirical observation. These figures played a crucial role in shaping Enlightenment-era medical philosophy, reinforcing principles of rationality, objectivity, and continuous discovery that defined the evolution of medical sciences in Naples. We here report the history of the Museo Anatomico and its origins, from private collections of human and animal preparations, both natural and pathological, by naturalists, apothecarties, anatomists and even botanists of the 16 th -17 th centuries. The precise date of its establishment, in a small room inside the University, is 1818 and was the work of Prof. Francesco Folinea. Over time, the museum incorporated wax models, human and animal skeletons, and specimens collected by influential figures such as Angelo Boccanera, Domenico Cotugno, and Antonio Nanula. Through acquisitions and donations, the collection expanded significantly: during the VII Congress of Scientists, which was held in Naples from 20 September to 5 October 1845, it was decided to move it to the second floor of the University building, to a much larger hall and in a much more prestigious context. Under Stefano delle Chiaje, the museum became a centralized institution for comparative anatomy, receiving rare specimens and establishing a system to catalog pathological anomalies. Following delle Chiaje’s death in 1860, Italian unification and University reforms, and especially the destruction of the manuscript catalogue drawn up by delle Chiaje himself, led to the museum’s reorganization, and later, significant events like World War II and a 1980 earthquake disrupted its unity. Recent efforts focus on cataloging and restoring the historical and scientific significance of its collections, underscoring its role in the rich Neapolitan medical research history.