History
The Early Years
The Department of Anatomy was established in April 1928 with the founding of the Kyushu Medical College, the predecessor of Kurume University. Terukatsu Yaetsu served as its first professor, followed by Rokuji Kakiyama in 1935 and Itaru Shibata in 1941.
Establishment of the Second Department of Anatomy
In 1946, the institution became Kurume Medical University and the Department of Anatomy was divided into two departments. Professor Masachika Kutsuna, who arrived from Taihoku Imperial University, took charge of the Second Department of Anatomy, marking the origin of our present division. After his move to Kumamoto University in 1949, Eichi Yamada became the second chair professor in 1956.
Development of Electron Microscopic Histology
Masahiro Murakami became the third chair professor in 1963 and developed extensive ultrastructural studies of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, pancreatic islets, adrenal cortex, testes, and male reproductive organs. Tetsuo Inokuchi, appointed fourth chair professor in 1992, advanced immunohistochemical studies of peripheral nerves and muscle as well as electron microscopic studies of microvasculature.
A New Era as the Division of Microscopic and Developmental Anatomy
Kei-ichiro Nakamura became the fifth chair professor in 2003. In 2005, following integration with the present Division of Gross and Clinical Anatomy, the department adopted its current name. Professor Nakamura developed three-dimensional electron microscopy using technologies including focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM). After his retirement in March 2021, Yuichi Shima joined from Kawasaki Medical School as the sixth chair professor in October 2021.
