Gray, Henry (1827-1861)

British anatomist who compiled a book on his subject, published 1858 with illustrations by his colleague H Vandyke Carter. Through its various editions and revisions, it has remained the definitive work on anatomy. Gray studied at St George's Hospital, London, where he became demonstrator of anatomy and curator of the St George's Museum. What is now known as Gray's Anatomy was based on his own dissections. Unlike other contemporary works on the subject, it was organized in terms of systems, rather than areas of the body. Such sections as neuroanatomy have been greatly enlarged in later editions but the section that deals with, for example, the skeletal system is almost identical to Gray's original work. It remains a standard text for students and surgeons alike.