Louis Pierre Gratiolet
Encyclopedia
Louis Pierre Gratiolet was a French anatomist and zoologist who was a native of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande
, Gironde
. He succeeded Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
(1805-1861) as professor of zoology to the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Paris
.
Gratiolet is remembered for his work in neuroanatomy
, physiognomy
and physical anthropology
. He did extensive research in the field of comparative anatomy
, and performed important studies regarding the differences and similarities between human and various primate brains. He is also credited for introducing the demarcation of the brain's cortical surface into five lobes, (frontal lobe
, temporal lobe
, parietal lobe
, occipital lobe
and insular cortex
).
With Paul Broca
(1824-1880) he performed correlative studies of aphasia
and the frontal lobe
. Gratiolet was a vocal critic of Broca regarding the latter's belief that a larger brain equated higher intelligence.
Sainte-Foy-la-Grande
Sainte-Foy-la-Grande is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-Personalities:It was the birthplace of:* Paul Broca, surgeon and anthropologist* Élisée Reclus, geographer-References:*...
, Gironde
Gironde
For the Revolutionary party, see Girondists.Gironde is a common name for the Gironde estuary, where the mouths of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers merge, and for a department in the Aquitaine region situated in southwest France.-History:...
. He succeeded Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was a French zoologist and an authority on deviation from normal structure. He coined the term ethology.He was born in Paris, the son of Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire...
(1805-1861) as professor of zoology to the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
.
Gratiolet is remembered for his work in neuroanatomy
Neuroanatomy
Neuroanatomy is the study of the anatomy and organization of the nervous system. In contrast to animals with radial symmetry, whose nervous system consists of a distributed network of cells, animals with bilateral symmetry have segregated, defined nervous systems, and thus we can begin to speak of...
, physiognomy
Physiognomy
Physiognomy is the assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face...
and physical anthropology
Physical anthropology
Biological anthropology is that branch of anthropology that studies the physical development of the human species. It plays an important part in paleoanthropology and in forensic anthropology...
. He did extensive research in the field of comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny .-Description:...
, and performed important studies regarding the differences and similarities between human and various primate brains. He is also credited for introducing the demarcation of the brain's cortical surface into five lobes, (frontal lobe
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobe is an area in the brain of humans and other mammals, located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere and positioned anterior to the parietal lobe and superior and anterior to the temporal lobes...
, temporal lobe
Temporal lobe
The temporal lobe is a region of the cerebral cortex that is located beneath the Sylvian fissure on both cerebral hemispheres of the mammalian brain....
, parietal lobe
Parietal lobe
The parietal lobe is a part of the Brain positioned above the occipital lobe and behind the frontal lobe.The parietal lobe integrates sensory information from different modalities, particularly determining spatial sense and navigation. For example, it comprises somatosensory cortex and the...
, occipital lobe
Occipital lobe
The occipital lobe is the visual processing center of the mammalian brain containing most of the anatomical region of the visual cortex. The primary visual cortex is Brodmann area 17, commonly called V1...
and insular cortex
Insular cortex
In each hemisphere of the mammalian brain the insular cortex is a portion of the cerebral cortex folded deep within the lateral sulcus between the temporal lobe and the frontal lobe. The cortical area overlying it towards the lateral surface of the brain is the operculum...
).
With Paul Broca
Paul Broca
Pierre Paul Broca was a French physician, surgeon, anatomist, and anthropologist. He was born in Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Gironde. He is best known for his research on Broca's area, a region of the frontal lobe that has been named after him. Broca’s Area is responsible for articulated language...
(1824-1880) he performed correlative studies of aphasia
Aphasia
Aphasia is an impairment of language ability. This class of language disorder ranges from having difficulty remembering words to being completely unable to speak, read, or write....
and the frontal lobe
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobe is an area in the brain of humans and other mammals, located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere and positioned anterior to the parietal lobe and superior and anterior to the temporal lobes...
. Gratiolet was a vocal critic of Broca regarding the latter's belief that a larger brain equated higher intelligence.
- Associated eponym:
- Gratiolet's radiation: also known as the geniculocalcarine tractOptic radiationThe optic radiation is a collection of axons from relay neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus carrying visual information to the visual cortex along the calcarine fissure.There is one such tract on each side of the brain.-Parts:A distinctive...
, which is a group of axonAxonAn axon is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body or soma....
s from relay neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleusLateral geniculate nucleusThe lateral geniculate nucleus is the primary relay center for visual information received from the retina of the eye. The LGN is found inside the thalamus of the brain....
of the thalamusThalamusThe thalamus is a midline paired symmetrical structure within the brains of vertebrates, including humans. It is situated between the cerebral cortex and midbrain, both in terms of location and neurological connections...
that carry visual information to the visual cortexVisual cortexThe visual cortex of the brain is the part of the cerebral cortex responsible for processing visual information. It is located in the occipital lobe, in the back of the brain....
.
Selected writings
- Anatomie comparée du système nerveux considéré dans ses rapports avec l’intelligence, with François LeuretFrançois LeuretFrançois Leuret was a French anatomist and psychiatrist who was a native of Nancy.He studied medicine under Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol , and was later chief physician at the Bicêtre in Paris. Two of his better known students were Paul Broca and Louis Pierre Gratiolet...
, Paris, Ballière, vol 1, 1839. - Mémoire sur les Plis Cérébraux de l"Homme et des Primates. Paris: Bertrand, 1854.
- De la Physiognomie et des Mouvements d'Expression (Concerning PhysiognomyPhysiognomyPhysiognomy is the assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face...
and the Movements of Expression) 1865. - Recherches sur l’anatomie de l’hippopotame. (Research concerning the Anatomy of the HippopotamusHippopotamusThe hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
) 1867.