Quick Facts
- Born:
- Oct. 17, 1781, Halle, Prussia [Germany]
- Died:
- Oct. 31, 1833, Halle (aged 52)
- Subjects Of Study:
- Meckel diverticulum
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Johann Friedrich Meckel
German physicist
Also known as: Meckel the Younger
Johann Friedrich Meckel (born Oct. 17, 1781, Halle, Prussia [Germany]ādied Oct. 31, 1833, Halle) was a German anatomist who first described the embryonic cartilage (now called Meckelās cartilage) that ossifies to form part of the lower jaw in fishes, amphibians, and birds. He also described a pouch (Meckelās diverticulum) of the small intestine.
Meckel, also known as Meckel the Younger, came from a family of physicians. He studied medicine at the universities of Halle and Gƶttingen, graduating in 1802 after writing a doctoral dissertation on congenital abnormalities of the heart. He was the author of numerous papers and several multivolume treatises, including one on pathological anatomy, and an atlas depicting human abnormalities.
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