Rudolf Heidenhain
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Peter Heinrich Heidenhain (29 January 1834 - 13 October 1897) was a German physiologist who was born in Marienwerder, East Prussia
(now Kwidzyn
, Poland). He studied medicine at the Universities of Halle
and Berlin. After receiving his doctorate, he remained in Berlin
as an assistant to Emil du Bois-Reymond
(1818-1896). In 1856 he returned to Halle
and worked in the laboratory of Alfred Wilhelm Volkmann (1801-1877). In 1859 he attained the chair of physiology at the University of Breslau, where he remained for the rest of his career. Two of his famous students at Breslau were Karl Weigert
(1845-1904) and Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849-1936).
Heidenhain is remembered for his work involving muscle
and nerve
physiology, and contributions made in the study of physiological thermoelectrics. He demonstrated the muscles' self-regulatory process for expenditure of energy, as well as its ability to "economize" energy. Heidenhain showed that total output energy (heat and mechanical work) increases with an increased load, in other words, a muscle freed more energy when resistance to its contraction was greater. Also, when a muscle was fatigued, it had the ability to work more economically. Heidenhain's research also dealt with the study of heat production during muscular activity. He was able to detect and measure a small increase of temperature during the slightest muscular movement.
Heidenhain did extensive research concerning the secretory and absorption processes of glands. He studied the stomach's gastric glands and the processes it used to produce pepsin
and hydrochloric acid
. Also, the eponymous demilunes of Heidenhain were described by him. These are half-moon shaped cellular structures associated with the salivary glands.
Heidenhain also performed scientific studies on hypnotism. His research was from a physiological basis, and he explained hypnosis in terms of inhibition of the cortex
. Later, Ivan Pavlov carried on Heidenhain's physiological studies of hypnosis. Also, while an assistant at Halle, Heidenhain made improvements on Hermann Welcker
’s (1822-1897) methodology for measurement of blood volume
. His son, Martin Heidenhain
(1864-1949) was a highly regarded anatomist.
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
(now Kwidzyn
Kwidzyn
Kwidzyn is a town in northern Poland on the Liwa river, with 40,008 inhabitants . It has been a part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously in the Elbląg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Kwidzyn County.-History:...
, Poland). He studied medicine at the Universities of Halle
University of Halle-Wittenberg
The Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg , also referred to as MLU, is a public, research-oriented university in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg within Saxony-Anhalt, Germany...
and Berlin. After receiving his doctorate, he remained in 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...
as an assistant to Emil du Bois-Reymond
Emil du Bois-Reymond
Emil du Bois-Reymond was a German physician and physiologist, the discoverer of nerve action potential, and the father of experimental electrophysiology.-Life:...
(1818-1896). In 1856 he returned to 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...
and worked in the laboratory of Alfred Wilhelm Volkmann (1801-1877). In 1859 he attained the chair of physiology at the University of Breslau, where he remained for the rest of his career. Two of his famous students at Breslau were Karl Weigert
Karl Weigert
Karl Weigert, Carl Weigert was a German Jewish pathologist.He received his education at the universities of Berlin, Vienna, and Breslau, graduating in 1868...
(1845-1904) and Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849-1936).
Heidenhain is remembered for his work involving muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
and nerve
Nerve
A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...
physiology, and contributions made in the study of physiological thermoelectrics. He demonstrated the muscles' self-regulatory process for expenditure of energy, as well as its ability to "economize" energy. Heidenhain showed that total output energy (heat and mechanical work) increases with an increased load, in other words, a muscle freed more energy when resistance to its contraction was greater. Also, when a muscle was fatigued, it had the ability to work more economically. Heidenhain's research also dealt with the study of heat production during muscular activity. He was able to detect and measure a small increase of temperature during the slightest muscular movement.
Heidenhain did extensive research concerning the secretory and absorption processes of glands. He studied the stomach's gastric glands and the processes it used to produce pepsin
Pepsin
Pepsin is an enzyme whose precursor form is released by the chief cells in the stomach and that degrades food proteins into peptides. It was discovered in 1836 by Theodor Schwann who also coined its name from the Greek word pepsis, meaning digestion...
and hydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid is a solution of hydrogen chloride in water, that is a highly corrosive, strong mineral acid with many industrial uses. It is found naturally in gastric acid....
. Also, the eponymous demilunes of Heidenhain were described by him. These are half-moon shaped cellular structures associated with the salivary glands.
Heidenhain also performed scientific studies on hypnotism. His research was from a physiological basis, and he explained hypnosis in terms of inhibition of the cortex
Cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex is a sheet of neural tissue that is outermost to the cerebrum of the mammalian brain. It plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. It is constituted of up to six horizontal layers, each of which has a different...
. Later, Ivan Pavlov carried on Heidenhain's physiological studies of hypnosis. Also, while an assistant at Halle, Heidenhain made improvements on Hermann Welcker
Hermann Welcker
Hermann Welcker was a German anatomist and anthropologist who was born in Giessen. He was a nephew to philologist Friedrich Gottlieb Welcker ....
’s (1822-1897) methodology for measurement of blood volume
Blood volume
Blood volume is the volume of blood in the circulatory system of an individual.-Humans:A typical adult has a blood volume of approximately between 4.7 and 5 liters, with females generally having less blood volume than males....
. His son, Martin Heidenhain
Martin Heidenhain
Martin Heidenhain was a German anatomist who was born in Breslau. His father was physiologist Rudolf Heidenhain , and his mother, Fanny Volkmann was the daughter of anatomist Alfred Wilhelm Volkmann...
(1864-1949) was a highly regarded anatomist.
Written works
- Historisches und Experimentelles über Muskeltonus, 1856
- Beitrag zur Anatomie der Peyer’schen Drüsen, 1859
- Physiologische Studien, 1856
- Studien des Physiologischen Instituts zu Breslau, 1861–1868
- Mechanische Leistung, Wärmeentwickelung und Stoffumsatz bei der Muskelthätigkeit, 1864
- Die Vivisektion im Dienste der Heilkunde, 1879
- Der sogenannte thierische Magnetismus. Physiologische Beobachtungen, 1880
- Die Vivisektion im Dienste der Gesundheit, 1884