Johann Friedrich Meckel, the Elder
Encyclopedia
Johann Friedrich Meckel the Elder (July 31, 1724 – September 18, 1774) 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
(1781–1833), who was also an anatomist and often has "the Younger" included with his name. The elder Meckel's son, Philipp Friedrich Theodor Meckel (1756–1803) and another grandson, August Albrecht Meckel (1790–1829) were also anatomists.
Meckel earned his medical doctorate from the University of Göttingen in 1748, where in his thesis Tractatus anatomico physiologicus de quinto pare nervorum cerebri he documents his discovery of the submandibular ganglion
. He moved to Berlin
where he first worked as Prosector
and also taught classes on midwifery
. In 1751 he became professor of anatomy, botany
and obstetrics
.
In 1773, Meckel was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
.
specimens, including a complete situs inversus
from the 18th century. Today the Meckelsche Sammlungen (Meckel Collection) has approximately 7000 exhibits and is housed at the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg in Halle
.
Wetzlar
Wetzlar is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany. Located at 8° 30′ E, 50° 34′ N, Wetzlar straddles the river Lahn and is on the German Timber-Framework Road which passes mile upon mile of half-timbered houses. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis on the north edge of...
. He often has "the Elder" appended to his name to avoid confusion with his famous grandson Johann Friedrich Meckel
Johann Friedrich Meckel
Johann Friedrich Meckel , often referred to as Johann Friedrich Meckel, the Younger, was a German anatomist born in Halle...
(1781–1833), who was also an anatomist and often has "the Younger" included with his name. The elder Meckel's son, Philipp Friedrich Theodor Meckel (1756–1803) and another grandson, August Albrecht Meckel (1790–1829) were also anatomists.
Meckel earned his medical doctorate from the University of Göttingen in 1748, where in his thesis Tractatus anatomico physiologicus de quinto pare nervorum cerebri he documents his discovery of the submandibular ganglion
Submandibular ganglion
The submandibular ganglion is part of the human autonomic nervous system. It is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck...
. He moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
where he first worked as 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....
and also taught classes on midwifery
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
. In 1751 he became professor of anatomy, botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
.
In 1773, Meckel 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...
.
Eponyms
Meckel has three anatomical eponyms associated with him:- Meckel's space or Meckel's caveMeckel's caveThe trigeminal cave is two layers of dura mater which encase the trigeminal ganglion near the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone. It is bounded by the dura overlying four structures:...
: A cavity in the dura materDura materThe dura mater , or dura, is the outermost of the three layers of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is derived from Mesoderm. The other two meningeal layers are the pia mater and the arachnoid mater. The dura surrounds the brain and the spinal cord and is responsible for...
over the petrous portion of the temporal bonePetrous portion of the temporal boneThe petrous portion of the temporal bone or pyramid is pyramidal and is wedged in at the base of the skull between the sphenoid and occipital bones. Directed medially, forward, and a little upward, it presents for examination a base, an apex, three surfaces, and three angles, and contains, in its...
that covers the trigeminal ganglionTrigeminal ganglionThe trigeminal ganglion is a sensory ganglion of the trigeminal nerve that occupies a cavity in the dura mater, covering the trigeminal impression near the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone.-Relations:It is somewhat crescentic in shape, with its convexity...
. - Meckel's ganglion: better known as the sphenopalatine ganglion, which is a small parasympathetic ganglionGanglionIn anatomy, a ganglion is a biological tissue mass, most commonly a mass of nerve cell bodies. Cells found in a ganglion are called ganglion cells, though this term is also sometimes used to refer specifically to retinal ganglion cells....
in the upper part of the sphenomaxillary fissure giving off nerves to the eyes, nose, and palate. - Meckel's ligament: a portion of the anterior ligamentLigamentIn anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
that fastens the malleusMalleusThe malleus or hammer is a hammer-shaped small bone or ossicle of the middle ear which connects with the incus and is attached to the inner surface of the eardrum...
to the wall of the tympanic membrane. This structure may be named after Meckel's son, Philipp Friedrich Theodor Meckel.
Collection
During his career, Meckel began an anatomical collection that was continued by his son and grandson. The collection includes mummified parts of the body, organs, skeletons and skulls, zoological as well as human anatomy. The collection also contains teratologicalTeratology
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...
specimens, including a complete situs inversus
Situs inversus
Situs inversus is a congenital condition in which the major visceral organs are reversed or mirrored from their normal positions. The normal arrangement is known as situs solitus...
from the 18th century. Today the Meckelsche Sammlungen (Meckel Collection) has approximately 7000 exhibits and is housed at the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg in Halle
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...
.
External links
- Johann Friedrich Meckel @ Who Named ItWho Named ItWho Named It? is an English-language dictionary of medical eponyms and the people associated with their identification. Though this is a dictionary, many eponyms and persons are presented in extensive articles with comprehensive bibliographies. It is hosted in Norway and maintained by medical...