Entre la anatomía y las geociencias: una aproximación a la vida y obra del beato Nicolás Steno

Nicholas Steno (1638-1686) was an important Danish anatomist and scientist, whose work helped to found several branches of geology. As an anatomist he made multiple contributions: he discovered the duct that bears his name in the parotid glands, as well as the place of excretion of tears that, at that time, were considered to be produced in the brain. He controverted the anatomical ideas of the time with his proposals to geometrize myology, that the heart was a muscle and with his contributions to the understanding of the nervous system. In 1667, he converted to Catholicism and, in 1677, was consecrated as titular bishop of Titiopolis, an ancient city whose ruins are in Turkey. He spent his last years in poverty as a missionary in northern Europe. He managed to reconcile scientific research and the study of anatomy with his religious vocation to make contributions in different disciplines. This article, through a review of the literature, reviews his life and his main works.