Images of the nervous system in Cajal's scientific thought.

Since his death in 1934, a wide range of publications have outlined Santiago Ramon y Cajal's (1852-1934) scientific personality as well as his contribution to the acceptance of the neuron theory. Trying to go beyond the traditional biographical approach, the present paper aims to set up the historical origins and the development of his scientific conributions. His global image of the nervous system, the neuron theory and other aspects of his scientific views are also related to his intellectual background. Not only his scientific papers, but also his own remembrances, biographical texts and general reflections are taken into account to describe the historical context of Cajal's scientific work, his discovery of the dynamic polarization of neuron cells and his contributions to the knowledge of the texture of the nervous centers and cells, the regeneration and degeneration of nerves, as well as Cajal's scientific bibliogaphy.