Marcello Malpighi

Marcello Malpighi ( born March 10, 1628 Crevalcore, BO, Italy, † November 29, 1694 in Rome ) was an Italian anatomist who is considered the founder of plant anatomy and comparative physiology.

Biography

Malpighi was born in the year in which William Harvey published the results of his studies on the blood circulation. At the age of about 17 years he started at the University of Bologna to study philosophy. In his senior year, however, both parents and his grandmother died father's side, so he had to stop the study and control the financial affairs of the family. Only two years later he was able to continue his studies, but had to choose a subject area that could support a family, as the following three siblings were girls. In 1653 he finally received the degree of doctor of medicine and philosophy. The following year he married Francesca Massari, the younger sister of his mentor at the Medical Faculty, Professor Massari, who died the following year.

Although his refusal to follow the teachings of Galen's blind, provoked criticism he received in 1656 the Department of Applied Medicine at the Faculty and in the same year the specially created for him chair of theoretical medicine at the University of Pisa. After working there for three years, he returned to Bologna back, was appointed two years later to Messina in Sicily, where he worked for four years, and then returned to Bologna. In 1669 he became a member of the Royal Society in London. In the last three years of his life he was physician of his friend Pope Innocent XII. and head of the Pontifical Faculty of Medicine. With 67 years he finally died of a stroke.

The scientific work

Everything Malpighi took in the hands was studied scientifically. Using the new technique using the microscope, he made important discoveries in anatomy: The rete Malpighii or the basal layer of the skin ( the stratum basale of the epidermis ), Malpighian corpuscles in the spleen ( Milzfollikel ) and kidney ( renal ), the Malpighian miracle network the glomeruli bear his name.

Comparative anatomical studies on the liver and the first accurate description of the embryonic development of chickens come from him. His studies on the capillaries in man opened his eyes and for the construction of plants from plant organs. He founded so that the plants anatomy. Along with Nehemiah Grew, he is considered the founder and created their applied until today terminology.

His studies on insects led him to the discovery of the Malpighian tubules, which he recognized as organs of osmoregulation and excretion. With the discovery of capillaries he was the William Harvey's confirm assumptions about the bloodstream. In addition to the anatomy he also dealt with issues relating to germination and glandular function.

Malpighi's embryological letters and writings have been edited and annotated by Howard B. Adelmann in large Latin- English editions.

Taxonomic ceremony

Charles Plumier named in his honor, the genus of the plant family of Malpighia Malpighiengewächse ( Malpighiaceae ). Linnaeus later took the name.

Works

• Dissertatio de epistolica bombyce, societati regiae, Londini ad scientam naturalem promovendam institutae, dicata. Martin & Allestry, London 1669th digitized the University and State Library Dusseldorf
• Anatome plantarum. Cui subjungitur appendix, iteratas & auctas ejusdem authoris de ovo incubato observationes continens. Regiae societati, Londini ad scientam naturalem promovendam institutae, dicata ( 2 vols ). Martin, London 1675-79, Reprint in one volume: Culture et Civilisation, Brussels 1968 digitized version of the Biodiversity Heritage Library. The anatomy of plants. Edited by Martin Möbius. 2nd edition, Harri German, Thun and Frankfurt am Main 1999, ISBN 3-8171-3120-8.