Wilhelm Alexander Freund
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Alexander Freund (August 26, 1833 - December 24, 1917) was a German gynecologist who was a native of Krappitz, Silesia
. In 1855 he earned his medical degree at the University of Breslau, and afterwards practiced medicine in Breslau. In 1879 he moved to Strasbourg
, where he was a professor of gynecology and obstetrics
. He died in Berlin.
In January 1878, Freund performed the first abdominal
extirpation of a cancerous uterus
. Twenty years later in 1898, Austrian gynecologist Ernst Wertheim
(1864-1920) became the first physician to completely extirpate the uterus via the abdomen.
The eponymous "Freund's anomaly" is a narrowing of the upper thoracic aperture
by shortening of the first rib
. This results in an insufficient expansion of the apex of the lung
.
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
. In 1855 he earned his medical degree at the University of Breslau, and afterwards practiced medicine in Breslau. In 1879 he moved to Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, where he was a professor of gynecology 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...
. He died in Berlin.
In January 1878, Freund performed the first abdominal
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
extirpation of a cancerous uterus
Uterus
The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
. Twenty years later in 1898, Austrian gynecologist Ernst Wertheim
Ernst Wertheim
Ernst Wertheim was an Austrian gynecologist who was born in Graz. In 1888 he received his doctorate from the University of Graz, and subsequently became an assistant in the department of general and experimental pathology...
(1864-1920) became the first physician to completely extirpate the uterus via the abdomen.
The eponymous "Freund's anomaly" is a narrowing of the upper thoracic aperture
Superior thoracic aperture
The superior thoracic aperture refers to the superior opening of the thoracic cavity. It is also referred to anatomically as the thoracic inlet and clinically as the thoracic outlet...
by shortening of the first rib
First rib
The first rib is the most curved and usually the shortest of all the ribs; it is broad and flat, its surfaces looking upward and downward, and its borders inward and outward....
. This results in an insufficient expansion of the apex of the lung
Lung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
.
Written works
- Beiträge zur Histologie der Rippenknorpel, Breslau, 1858;
- Der Zusammenhang Gewisser Lungenkrankheiten mit Primären Rippenknorpelanomalien, Erlangen, 1858;
- Eine Neue Methode der Exstirpation des Uterus in Volkmann's "Sammlung Klinischer Vorträge," 1885, No. 133
- Die Gynäkologische Klinik, Strasburg, 1891