Volcher Coiter

Volcher Coiter (born 1534, Groningen, Neth.—died 1590?) was a physician who established the study of comparative osteology and first described cerebrospinal meningitis. Through a grant from Groningen, he studied in Italy and France and was a pupil of Fallopius, Eustachius, Arantius, and Rondelet. He became city physician of Nürnberg (1569) and later entered military service as field surgeon to Johann Casimir, the palatine prince.

Coiter’s researches included postmortem studies. He described human embryology as well as the comparative osteology of animals and illustrated his own work. He also investigated the sense organs and the nervous system.