Gustav Schwalbe
Encyclopedia
Gustav Albert Schwalbe, M.D. (August 1, 1844 – April 23, 1916) was a German
anatomist and anthropologist from Quedlinburg
.
He was educated at the universities of Berlin
, Zurich
, and Bonn
(M.D.
1866), he became in 1870 privat-docent at the University of Halle, in 1871 privatdozent
and prosector
at the University of Freiburg
in Baden, in 1872 assistant professor at the University of Leipzig
, and then professor of anatomy successively at the universities of Jena (1873), Königsberg
(1881), and Strassburg
(1883), where he died.
Schwalbe is remembered for his anthropological research of primitive man. He considered the Neanderthal
to be a direct ancestor of modern humans. He also wrote an influential treatise on Java Man
, which had been a recent discovery by Eugène Dubois
(1858-1940).
In 1869 Schwalbe injected Berlin-blue dye into the subarachnoid space
of a dog, and was the first to demonstrate that the major pathways to absorb cerebrospinal fluid
were lymphatic pathways
. The subarachnoid or subdural space
s between the internal and external sheaths of the optic nerve
are now referred to as Schwalbe's spaces; also called the intervaginal spaces of optic nerve (spatia intervaginalia nervi optici). His name is lent to several other anatomical structures, including Schwalbe's nucleus or the vestibular nucleus, Schwalbe's ring, which is a circular ridge consisting of collagen
ous fibers surrounding the outer margin of Descemet's membrane
, and Schwalbe's line
, an anatomical line located on the posterior surface of the eye's cornea
.
and is the author of:
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
anatomist and anthropologist from Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
.
He was educated at the universities of Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
, Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, and Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
(M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
1866), he became in 1870 privat-docent at the University of Halle, in 1871 privatdozent
Privatdozent
Privatdozent or Private lecturer is a title conferred in some European university systems, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who pursues an academic career and holds all formal qualifications to become a tenured university professor...
and prosector
Prosector
A prosector is a person with the special task of preparing a dissection for demonstration, usually in medical schools or hospitals. Many important anatomists began their careers as prosectors working for lecturers and demonstrators in anatomy and pathology....
at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
in Baden, in 1872 assistant professor at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, and then professor of anatomy successively at the universities of Jena (1873), Königsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
(1881), and Strassburg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
(1883), where he died.
Schwalbe is remembered for his anthropological research of primitive man. He considered the Neanderthal
Neanderthal
The Neanderthal is an extinct member of the Homo genus known from Pleistocene specimens found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia...
to be a direct ancestor of modern humans. He also wrote an influential treatise on Java Man
Java Man
Java Man is the name given to fossils discovered in 1891 at Trinil - Ngawi Regency on the banks of the Solo River in East Java, Indonesia, one of the first known specimens of Homo erectus...
, which had been a recent discovery by Eugène Dubois
Eugène Dubois
Marie Eugène François Thomas Dubois was a Dutch paleoanthropologist. He earned worldwide fame for his discovery of Pithecanthropus erectus , or 'Java Man'...
(1858-1940).
In 1869 Schwalbe injected Berlin-blue dye into the subarachnoid space
Subarachnoid space
In the central nervous system, the subarachnoid cavity is the interval between the arachnoid membrane and pia mater....
of a dog, and was the first to demonstrate that the major pathways to absorb cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid , Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear, colorless, bodily fluid, that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain and spinal cord...
were lymphatic pathways
Lymphatic system
The lymphoid system is the part of the immune system comprising a network of conduits called lymphatic vessels that carry a clear fluid called lymph unidirectionally toward the heart. Lymphoid tissue is found in many organs, particularly the lymph nodes, and in the lymphoid follicles associated...
. The subarachnoid or subdural space
Subdural space
The subdural space is an artificial space created by the separation of the arachnoid mater from the dura mater as the result of trauma, pathologic process, or the absence of cerebrospinal fluid as seen in a cadaver. In the cadaver, due to the absence of cerebrospinal fluid, the arachnoid mater...
s between the internal and external sheaths of the optic nerve
Optic nerve
The optic nerve, also called cranial nerve 2, transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. Derived from the embryonic retinal ganglion cell, a diverticulum located in the diencephalon, the optic nerve doesn't regenerate after transection.-Anatomy:The optic nerve is the second of...
are now referred to as Schwalbe's spaces; also called the intervaginal spaces of optic nerve (spatia intervaginalia nervi optici). His name is lent to several other anatomical structures, including Schwalbe's nucleus or the vestibular nucleus, Schwalbe's ring, which is a circular ridge consisting of collagen
Collagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...
ous fibers surrounding the outer margin of Descemet's membrane
Descemet's membrane
Descemet's membrane is the basement membrane that lies between the corneal proper substance, also called stroma, and the endothelial layer of the cornea. It is composed of a different kind of collagen than the stroma. The endothelial layer is located at the posterior of the cornea...
, and Schwalbe's line
Schwalbe's line
Schwalbe's line is the anatomical line found on the interior surface of the eye's cornea, and delineates the outer limit of the corneal endothelium layer. Specifically, it represents the termination of Descemet's membrane. In many cases it can be seen via gonioscopy....
, an anatomical line located on the posterior surface of the eye's cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
.
Literary works
- an editor of the Jahresberichte für Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte
- an editor of the Zeitschrift für Morphologie und Anthropologie
- He edited also the second edition of Hoffmann's Lehrbuch der Anatomie des Menschen (Erlangen, 1877-81)
and is the author of:
- Lehrbuch der Neurologie (Textbook of neurology) ib. 1881;
- Ueber die Kaliberverhältnisse der Nervenfasern, (About the caliber conditions of the nerve fibers) Leipzig, 1882;
- Lehrbuch der Anatomie der Sinnesorgane (Textbook about the anatomy of the sensory organs) Erlangen, 1886;
- Studien über Pithecantropus Erectus (Study of Pithecantropus Erectus) Leipzig, 1899;
- Der NeanderNeanderNeander may refer to:* Johann August Wilhelm Neander , a German theologian and church historian.* Ernst Neumann-Neander , founder of the now defunct Neander motorcycle manufacturer.* Joachim Neander , a Calvinist teacher....
Schädel (The Neanderthal Skull) ib. 1901; - Vorgeschichte der Menschen (Prehistory of Humans) ib. 1903;