Meckel, Johann Friedrich

born Oct. 17, 1781, Halle, Prussia

died Oct. 31, 1833, Halle

German anatomist.

He was the first to describe the embryonic cartilage (Meckel cartilage) that becomes part of the lower jaw in fishes, amphibians, and birds and also described a congenital pouch (Meckel diverticulum) of the small intestine. He wrote a treatise on pathological anatomy and an atlas of human abnormalities.

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▪ German physicist

born Oct. 17, 1781, Halle, Prussia [Germany]

died Oct. 31, 1833, Halle

      German anatomist who first described the embryonic cartilage (now called Meckel's cartilage) that ossifies to form part of the lower jaw in fishes, amphibians, and birds. He also described a pouch (Meckel's 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 Göttingen, 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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