De Venarum Ostiolis

De Venarum Ostiolis, published in 1603 by Hieronymus Fabricius ab Aquapendente, is a significant work in the history of anatomy and medicine. The title translates to "On the Valves of the Veins".1

In this publication, Fabricius provided the first clear description of the semilunar valves within the veins. This detailed observation was crucial, as it later offered William Harvey a key piece of evidence in his groundbreaking argument for the circulation of blood. Fabricius, an Italian surgeon and anatomist, spent much of his career at the University of Padua, where he taught anatomy and surgery. His work laid important groundwork for future discoveries in understanding the human body.12