For nearly 500 years, the groundbreaking work of 16th-century anatomist Andreas Vesalius has shaped medical education, but one of his most innovative tools—anatomical “manikins” designed to teach 3D anatomy—has largely remained in the shadows. Now, for the first time, these intricate paper models have been brought together by American researchers, offering a fresh look at how Vesalius revolutionised the study of the human body.