An Anatomist Şemseddîn-i Itâki in the Seventeenth Century and His Illustrated Handwritten Anatomy Book: Traditional Review

The 17th century was a century of important developments in science and anatomy in Europe. Şemseddîn-i İtâki (1570-1640 A.D.) is an important scientist, anatomist and physician who lived in this century. He was born in Shirvan and later came to İstanbul, Ottoman Empire, where he wrote the anatomy textbook ''Teşrîh-i Ebdân ve Tercümân-ı Kıbâle-i Feylesûfân'', meaning ''Anatomy of the Body and Birth Information for Scholars''. The purpose of this review is to introduce Şemseddîn-i İtâki and his book. ''Teşrîh-i Ebdân ve Tercümân-ı Kıbâle-i Feylesûfân'' was the first illustrated and handwritten Turkish anatomy book. The Turkish anatomy terms contained in the work make it interesting in terms of the terminology of anatomy. While some of the figures in the book resemble Ahmed Ibn Mansur's Teşrih-i Ebdan, it is observed that some of them resemble the figures of Andreas Vesalius. It can be stated that he benefited from many scientists in his work, including Aristotle, Galen, Avicenna and Juan Valverde de Amusco. The book also includes some schemas drawn by the author himself. In his work, İtâki pointed out the functional importance of the structures by using the expressions ''If it hadn't happened (without)'' or ''If it had happened''. This approach is a precursor to functional anatomy. Almost all of the Eastern and Western literature on anatomy has been read and reviewed and anatomy knowledge has been updated for those dates. We think that Şemseddîn-i İtâki is a scientist who should be known today for his pioneering, knowledge-following and researching characteristics.