Jacques Dubois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacques Dubois
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| Born | 1478 |
| Died | 14 January 1555 Paris
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| Nationality | French |
| Other names | Jacobus Sylvius |
| Education | University of Montpellier (M.B., 1529; M.D., 1530) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Anatomy |
| Institutions | Collège de Tréguier Collège Royal |
| Academic advisors | Hermonymus of Sparta Janus Lascaris François Vatable Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples Franciscus Sylvius Ambianus |
| Notable students | Michael Servetus Andreas Vesalius Louis Duret |
| Influences | Hippocrates, Galen |
| Influenced | Johann Winter von Andernach |
Jacques Dubois (also known as Jacobus Sylvius) was a famous French doctor who studied the human body. He was born in 1478 and passed away on January 14, 1555.
Dubois was the first to describe tiny flaps inside veins, called venous valves. These valves help blood flow in the right direction. His brother, Franciscus Sylvius Ambianus, was also a professor.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Jacques Dubois was likely born in 1478 in Loeuilly, a small town in France. He was one of fifteen children in his family. His father worked as a weaver.
From a young age, Jacques was very smart. He studied Ancient Greek, Hebrew, and mathematics. He became well-known for his excellent knowledge in these subjects. He was a leading figure in a movement called French humanism, which focused on human values and classical studies.
First French Grammar Book
Dubois wrote the first grammar book for the French language. It was published in Paris in early 1531. This was less than a year after the very first French grammar book was published in London by John Palsgrave.
From Languages to Medicine
Jacques Dubois was known for working very hard and for being a great speaker. He studied languages and math at the University of Paris. However, he felt that studying languages wasn't giving him enough rewards. So, he decided to switch to medicine.
He learned about human anatomy from Jean Fagault, a famous doctor in Paris. While studying with Fagault, Dubois started teaching. He gave lessons explaining the works of ancient doctors like Hippocrates and Galen. These lessons focused on anatomy and were taught at the Collège de Tréguier.
His lectures were so popular that the University of Paris faculty complained. They said he hadn't earned a college degree yet. Because of this, Dubois went to the University of Montpellier in November 1529. He quickly earned his Bachelor of Medicine degree in 1529 and his Medical Doctorate in 1530.
After getting his degrees, he returned to Paris. But the faculty again tried to stop him. They said he needed a Bachelor of Medicine degree from the University of Paris. So, on June 28, 1531, Dubois earned another M.B. from Paris. This finally allowed him to continue his anatomy lessons.
In 1550, he was chosen to be a Professor of Surgery at the new Collège de France in Paris. King Henry II of France gave him this important job. Dubois greatly admired Galen, an ancient Greek physician. He preferred to teach by explaining Galen's writings rather than doing many demonstrations. He passed away in Paris on January 14, 1555.
Dubois as a Teacher
Jacques Dubois was not just a great speaker; he was also a hands-on teacher. He was the first professor in France to teach anatomy by dissecting (studying) a human body. This was a very important step in medical education.
Contributions to Anatomy
Dubois made important contributions to the study of the human body. He gave names to many muscles, which before him were only referred to by numbers. This made it much easier for doctors and students to talk about and understand the body.
He was the first anatomist to publish good descriptions of certain bones in the skull, like the pterygoid process and parts of the sphenoid bone. He also accurately described the sphenoid sinus in adults. However, he incorrectly believed it didn't exist in children. Dubois also wrote about the vertebrae (bones in the spine), but he made some mistakes in describing the sternum (breastbone).
See also
In Spanish: Jacques Dubois para niños
