Description of panel D: the brain, cranial nerves, and the shape of the cerebral ventricles (c.1506)
The Weimar sheet has been transcribed and translated by Carlo Pedretti in The Literary Works of Leonardo da Vinci. A commentary to Jean Paul Richter's edition (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1977), volume II, pages 110-111. Dr. Pedretti dates the sheet c.1506-7.
In the large figure the parts of the brain are inscribed "inpresiva" ("imprensiva"), "senso comune" ("common sense"), and "memoria" ("memory"). Next to the forehead is the word "charocoli" (caruncoli; fleshy swelling). At the bottom of the figure is written "reversiuj" ("vagus nerves").
Right hand side, from top to bottom:
| You will show a ramification of veins as it comes out of the os basilaris, by itself, without the brain. |
| Let us make the whole ramification of the veins which serve the brain first by itself, separated from the nerves, and then together with the nerves. |
Center column:
| When you come to represent the brain join all the nerves which descend from the brain through the corresponding perforations in the os basilaris; and this is the true way of showing the actual situation of the nerves in their upper parts as well as in their lower parts. |
| Then you will make one similar to that shown above. |
| Besides this you will make a drawing to show the brain with all its nerves in full length descending from it; and show it from four different points. |
Left hand side, from top to bottom:
| Represent the nerves which move the eye in all directions, and related muscles, and do the same with the upper and lower eyelids, nostrils, cheeks, and lips, and everything that moves in man's face. |
| Great diligence should be used in demonstrating how the two vessels which are the depository of the human semen carry such semen into the penis, and which muscles are those which constrict such vessels to throw forth the semen. And show the place of the vessels, from their origin to the penis. |
References:
| Leonardo da Vinci (1978-1980) Corpus of the anatomical studies in the collection of Her Majesty, the Queen, at Windsor Castle (Keele, K. and Pedretti, C. eds.), Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, between K/P 54 and 55 |
| Schultheiss, D., Laurenza, D., Gotte, B., and Jonas, U. (1999) The Weimar anatomical sheet of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519): an illustration of the genitourinary tract. BJU Int., 84, 595-600 |
Return to the Leonardo homepage
Return to the Pevsner lab homepage