Aselli, Gaspare

Gaspare Aselli (Cremona 1581 – Milan 1625) was a Pavia University alumni who later occupied the chair of Anatomy. In 1622, the famed doctor and surgeon, observed during his in vivo experimentations a new type of vessels.

The vessels were extremely numerous, fine and white, spread all over the mesentery and the intestine with infinite ramifications. By incising them, he found that they contained a milk like substance. He had discovered the chyliferous vessels.

By highlighting the existence of chyliferous vessels and lymphatic circulation, Aselli’s discovery greatly contributed to debunking the myth, of Galenic origin, that the liver had a key role in circulation – a belief that was later permanently disproved by William Harvey’s blood circulation theory.