1771-1802

French physician and pathologist who is regarded as the founder of tissue theory and animal histology. Bichat performed over 600 autopsies in an attempt to understand the fine structure of the human body. Bichat argued that the organs of the body should be studied in terms of their fundamental structural and vital elements, which he called tissues. The basic actions of tissues were explained in terms of their ability to react to stimuli (irritability) and the ability to perceive stimuli (sensibility).