Morgagni and Malpighi are sometimes confusing to the amateur medical historian. Morgagni's birthplace, Forli, in Romagna, was not far from the birthsite of Malpighi, his academic godfather. Malpighi, one of the great microscopists and histologists, was professor of anatomy at Bologna a generation before Morgagni, the founder of pathological anatomy, received his MD degree (1701) at this distinguished center of learning. At Bologna, Morgagni studied with Albertini who correlated dyspnea with heart disease and with Valsalva who described the anatomy of the ear and the maneuver that bears his name. Also, Morgagni assisted Valsalva in the anatomical amphitheater, before and after graduation. Although Morgagni's reputation in current times is associated principally with anatomy and pathology, he manifested great interest in physiological experiments, and was recognized as a skillful clinician in consultation.
After study at the University of Padua and medical practice at Forli, Morgagni was elected, at the age of