Wilhelm His, Sr.

Wilhelm His ( born July 9, 1831 in Basel, † May 1, 1904 in Leipzig) was a Swiss anatomist.

Life

His came from a respected patrician family and studied in Basel, Berlin (with Johannes Peter Müller and Robert Remak ), Würzburg ( with Rudolf Virchow and Albert of Kölliker ), Bern, Vienna and Paris medicine. In 1854 he received his doctorate in 1856 he completed his habilitation in Basel.

In 1857, he was already 26 years, professor of anatomy and physiology in Basel. In 1872 he was appointed professor at the University of Leipzig. He designed a new teaching building, which was completed three years later and today houses the Leipzig anatomy. 1877/78, 1883/84, 1887 /88 and 1898/99 he was Dean, 1882 Rector of the University of Leipzig. For his scientific achievements, he was elected in 1880 in the Leopoldina.

His son was the internist Wilhelm His. His nephew was the physician and physiologist Friedrich Miescher.

Work

His developed the wax plate technique with which one could produce three-dimensional reconstruction of embryos. He was a pioneer in the field of tissue cutting technology and developed the microtome on. His researched especially in the field of embryology of the central nervous system and discovered the neuroblasts. Because of his studies, he threw Ernst Haeckel in the embryo controversy repeated claims to have drawn the wrong embryos in order to represent the so-called biogenetic law of Haeckel plausible can. This criticism is now reinterpreted by creationists as evidence against the theory of evolution.

He discovered in 1883 that each nerve fiber has its origin in a single nerve cell. His thus laid a foundation for the neuron theory.

He has also earned himself made ​​to the anatomic nomenclature called Basel nomenclature (BNA ) is mainly due to his initiative.

His was also significant for the construction of anatomical collection in Leipzig, which still possesses specimens from his time today. Together with the sculptor Steger he made plaster casts of anatomical specimens ( " His- Steger models ").

His was also involved in the identification of the remains of Johann Sebastian Bach. Together with the Leipzig professor of dentistry, Friedrich Ludwig Hesse, he analyzed Bach's skull after Welcker profile method.

Grave stone of Wilhelm His

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