Luigi Rolando


Luigi Rolando was an Italian anatomist known for his pioneering research in brain localization of function.
He studied medicine in Turin, later continuing his education in Florence, where he studied engraving, drawing, anatomical dissection, and conducted microscopic investigations of nerve tissue. From 1804 he was a professor at the University of Sassari, and in 1814 was appointed professor of anatomy at the University of Turin.
As a University of Turin professor, he devoted his life to the study of brain anatomy.
A range of neuroanatomical and neurological entities are named after him: the Rolandic vein, the Rolandic artery, the pre-Rolandic artery, the Rolandic operculum, the Rolandic area, the substantia gelatinosa of Rolando, the fissure of Rolando and Rolandic epilepsy.

Written works

Saggio sopra la vera struttura del cervello dell'uomo e degli animali e sopra le funzioni del sistema nervoso, – Essay on the brain structure of humans and animals, and functions of the nervous system.Inductions physiologiques et pathologiques sur les differentes espèces...,, 1822Ricerche anatomiche sulla struttura del midollo spinale, – Anatomical structure of the spinal cord.Saggio sopra la vera struttura del cervello e sopra le funzioni del sistema nervoso; Volumes 1–2, 1828Manuale di anatomia fisiologica, – Textbook of physiological anatomy.Della struttura degli emisferi cerebrali – Structure of the cerebral hemispheres.