Bartholin (or Bartholinus), Thomas (1616-1680)

Danish anatomist, son of Kaspar Bartholinus. After travelling widely in Europe, where he visited the most prestigious medical schools, he returned to his home town of Copenhagen. There, he was appointed professor of philology in 1647, exchanging this post in 1648 for a professorship in anatomy, which he held until 1661. His medical discoveries include the lymphatic system and the thoracic duct. In 1670 he was named physician to the king, and in time was made a member of the grand council of Denmark.

Among Bartholin's numerous publications are a dissertation on medical poets (1669) and a study of diseases that are mentioned in the Bible (1672).