A lucky mistake: the splenic glands of Marcello Malpighi

Abstract

Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694) is one of the most important anatomists and physicians in the history of medicine. His contributions to the understanding of human anatomy and physiology span from the first description of capillary circulation to a thorough analysis of the structure and function of body glands. Malpighi believed that most organs consisted of glandular structures, whose distribution and microscopic features determine each organ-specific function. He also applied this view to the study of spleen anatomy, which he recognized as composed of 2 distinct anatomic compartments (ie, the red and the white pulp). Malpighi's observations on the structure and function of the spleen were first published in 1666 in De Viscerum Structura. In this paper, we pay tribute to this work, presenting Malpighi's theory of the spleen as a glandular organ. The rationale of Malpighi's view and its value for contemporary pathologists and medical researchers will also be elucidated.