There is no doubt that many of the scientific discoveries and advances in medicine that we are exposed to today would not be possible without the work of brilliant scientists of the past. The 19th century is just one period that brought such brilliance, and one of the most famous scientists is Pierre-Paul Broca, or as he is more commonly known, Paul Broca. Paul Broca was a French anatomist, surgeon, physician and anthropologist, who from an early age was known as a prodigy and someone far ahead of his time. Broca received his basic education in his hometown of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, then obtained his baccalaureate at the age of 16. At the age of 17, Broca entered medical school and graduated from the University at the age of 20. Broca had degrees in mathematics, literature and physics. Broca's early scientific work focused on cartilage and bone, the treatment of aneurysms, infant mortality, and cancer pathology. However, Broca is best known for his work on the brain and the localization of brain functions, particularly sp...