Johann Friedrich Meckel
Encyclopedia
Johann Friedrich Meckel often referred to as Johann Friedrich Meckel, the Younger, was a German anatomist born in Halle
. In 1802 he received his medical
doctorate
from the University of Halle, and from 1808 until his death in 1833 was a professor of pathology
, anatomy and surgery at the university.
After his graduation, Meckel spent time in Paris
assisting zoologist Georges Cuvier
(1769-1832) with systematic analysis of anatomical and zootomical specimens. In 1810, he finished translating Cuvier's 5-volume work Leçons d’anatomie Comparée from French into German. From 1826 until 1833 he was editor of the Archiv für Anatomie und Physiologie. In 1829, he was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
.
Meckel adopted naturalist
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
's (1744-1829) evolutionary beliefs. He was a pioneer in the science of teratology
, in particular the study of birth defects and abnormalities that occur during embryonic development. He believed that abnormal development adhered to the same natural laws as did normal development. With French embryologist Étienne Serres
(1786-1868), the "Meckel-Serres Law" is named. This was a theory of parallelism which attempted to link comparative embryology
with a unifying pattern in the organic world.
Two eponymous structures of the anatomy are named after him:
His grandfather was also named "Johann Friedrich Meckel". In order to avoid confusion, he is often referred to as Johann Friedrich Meckel, the Elder
. The elder Meckel was also a professor of anatomy, and he too has anatomical structures named after him.
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
. In 1802 he received his medical
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from the University of Halle, and from 1808 until his death in 1833 was a professor of pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
, anatomy and surgery at the university.
After his graduation, Meckel spent time in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
assisting zoologist Georges Cuvier
Georges Cuvier
Georges Chrétien Léopold Dagobert Cuvier or Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric Cuvier , known as Georges Cuvier, was a French naturalist and zoologist...
(1769-1832) with systematic analysis of anatomical and zootomical specimens. In 1810, he finished translating Cuvier's 5-volume work Leçons d’anatomie Comparée from French into German. From 1826 until 1833 he was editor of the Archiv für Anatomie und Physiologie. In 1829, he was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
.
Meckel adopted naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de la Marck , often known simply as Lamarck, was a French naturalist...
's (1744-1829) evolutionary beliefs. He was a pioneer in the science of teratology
Teratology
Teratology is the study of abnormalities of physiological development. It is often thought of as the study of human birth defects, but it is much broader than that, taking in other non-birth developmental stages, including puberty; and other non-human life forms, including plants.- Etymology :The...
, in particular the study of birth defects and abnormalities that occur during embryonic development. He believed that abnormal development adhered to the same natural laws as did normal development. With French embryologist Étienne Serres
Étienne Serres
Antoine Étienne Renaud Augustin Serres was a French physician and embryologist.In 1810 Serres received his medical doctorate in Paris, and afterwards worked at the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris and the Hôpital de la Pitié. Beginning in 1839 he taught comparative anatomy at the Jardin des Plantes. In 1841 he...
(1786-1868), the "Meckel-Serres Law" is named. This was a theory of parallelism which attempted to link comparative embryology
Embryology
Embryology is a science which is about the development of an embryo from the fertilization of the ovum to the fetus stage...
with a unifying pattern in the organic world.
Two eponymous structures of the anatomy are named after him:
- Meckel's diverticulumMeckel's diverticulumA Meckel's diverticulum, a true congenital diverticulum, is a small bulge in the small intestine present at birth. It is a vestigial remnant of the omphalomesenteric duct , and is the most frequent malformation of the gastrointestinal tract...
: Portion of the omphalomesenteric duct of the small intestineSmall intestineThe small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract following the stomach and followed by the large intestine, and is where much of the digestion and absorption of food takes place. In invertebrates such as worms, the terms "gastrointestinal tract" and "large intestine" are often used to...
, it is present in only 2% of the population. - Meckel's cartilageMeckel's cartilageThe cartilaginous bar of the mandibular arch is formed by what are known as Meckel’s cartilages also known as Meckelian cartilages; above this the incus and malleus are developed....
A cartilaginous bar from which the mandibleMandibleThe mandible pronunciation or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place...
is formed.
His grandfather was also named "Johann Friedrich Meckel". In order to avoid confusion, he is often referred to as Johann Friedrich Meckel, the Elder
Johann Friedrich Meckel, the Elder
Johann Friedrich Meckel the Elder was a German anatomist who was born in Wetzlar. He often has "the Elder" appended to his name to avoid confusion with his famous grandson Johann Friedrich Meckel , who was also an anatomist and often has "the Younger" included with his name...
. The elder Meckel was also a professor of anatomy, and he too has anatomical structures named after him.