[Investigations on knowledge of the pancreas before Vesal, with special regard to the anatomical technique in the 16th and 17th century (author's transl)].

In the centuries before Vesal is the pancreas described. The name "pancreas" is created by Galenos (1565). This organ has after Galenos (1565) a function of cushion. The supposition that the pancreas is a gland is created by Berengario da Carpi (1521). The technique of the anatomical section is the basis on knowledge of VESAL. He has created many instruments.