Antonio Scarpa (1752-1832). Anatomist and surgeon. He completed his studies at the university of Padua, where he was a pupil of the eminent doctors Vallisnieri and Morgagni. He was called upon to teach Anatomy in Modena at the tender age of 20 and then went on to Pavia in 1873. He was also appointed Chief Surgeon of the Military Hospitals by Francis III of Modena. He contributed to our knowledge of anatomical structure of bone, the formation of bone callous, the cardiac nerves (Scarpa's great cardiac nerve is an autonomic nerve which forms part of the cardiac plexus.), the anatomy of the thigh (Scarpa's femoral triangle, formed by the sartorius and the adductor longus muscles and the inguinal ligament). He also turned his attention to the anatomy of the ear and described the vestibular ganglion (ganglion originating in the vestibular nerve located at the base of the internal auditory meatus). He also emphasised the importance of the secondary tympanus (secondary tympanic membrane which closes the fenestra rotunda to separate the scala tympani from the tympanic cavity. See wax model no. XIX). Scarpa was also famous for hernia operations and ophthalmic surgery.