Historical perspective on neuroembryology: Wilhelm His and his contemporaries. 2018

Jean-Claude Dupont
Centre d'histoire des sciences, des sociétés et des conflits (CHSSC-EA 4289), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, UFR de sciences humaines et sociales et philosophie, Chemin du Thil, 80025, AMIENS Cedex.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the discovery of the neural crest by Wilhelm His (1831-1904). Beyond this discovery, His made possible the program of comparative anatomy at the cellular level thanks to the introduction in 1866 of the first microtome to have micrometer advance. His studies of the origin, migration, and fate of neural crest cells were foundational in the field of neuroembryology and contributed to the establishment of the neuron doctrine. The article places His' work in the scientific context of 19th century embryology, concerned with reconciling the embryonic layers theory, the cell theory and the evolution theory. From a methodological point of view, the article shows that His appears in this context at the junction of two embryological traditions, the descriptive morphological approach and the new experimental approach. The anatomical and physiological exploration of the neural crest and the controversies that followed highlight the transition between these two traditions that His enabled and of which he was one of the initiators.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008867 Microtomy The technique of using a microtome to cut thin or ultrathin sections of tissues embedded in a supporting substance. The microtome is an instrument that hold a steel, glass or diamond knife in clamps at an angle to the blocks of prepared tissues, which it cuts in sections of equal thickness. Thin Sectioning,Ultramicrotomy,Sectioning, Thin,Sectionings, Thin,Thin Sectionings
D009432 Neural Crest The two longitudinal ridges along the PRIMITIVE STREAK appearing near the end of GASTRULATION during development of nervous system (NEURULATION). The ridges are formed by folding of NEURAL PLATE. Between the ridges is a neural groove which deepens as the fold become elevated. When the folds meet at midline, the groove becomes a closed tube, the NEURAL TUBE. Neural Crest Cells,Neural Fold,Neural Groove,Cell, Neural Crest,Cells, Neural Crest,Crest, Neural,Crests, Neural,Fold, Neural,Folds, Neural,Groove, Neural,Grooves, Neural,Neural Crest Cell,Neural Crests,Neural Folds,Neural Grooves
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D005855 Germ Layers The three primary germinal layers (ECTODERM; ENDODERM; and MESODERM) developed during GASTRULATION that provide tissues and body plan of a mature organism. They derive from two early layers, hypoblast and epiblast. Epiblast,Hypoblast,Epiblasts,Germ Layer,Hypoblasts,Layer, Germ,Layers, Germ
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D049672 History, 19th Century Time period from 1801 through 1900 of the common era. 19th Century History,19th Cent. History (Medicine),19th Cent. History of Medicine,19th Cent. Medicine,Historical Events, 19th Century,History of Medicine, 19th Cent.,History, Nineteenth Century,Medical History, 19th Cent.,Medicine, 19th Cent.,19th Cent. Histories (Medicine),19th Century Histories,Cent. Histories, 19th (Medicine),Cent. History, 19th (Medicine),Century Histories, 19th,Century Histories, Nineteenth,Century History, 19th,Century History, Nineteenth,Histories, 19th Cent. (Medicine),Histories, 19th Century,Histories, Nineteenth Century,History, 19th Cent. (Medicine),Nineteenth Century Histories,Nineteenth Century History
D019070 Cell Lineage The developmental history of specific differentiated cell types as traced back to the original STEM CELLS in the embryo. Cell Lineages,Lineage, Cell,Lineages, Cell

Related Publications

Jean-Claude Dupont
October 1960, Zeitschrift fur die gesamte innere Medizin und ihre Grenzgebiete,
Jean-Claude Dupont
February 1943, Science (New York, N.Y.),
Jean-Claude Dupont
January 1955, Journal of the Irish Medical Association,
Jean-Claude Dupont
January 1986, British journal of plastic surgery,
Jean-Claude Dupont
June 1999, Pharmaceutical historian,
Jean-Claude Dupont
March 1962, Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England,
Jean-Claude Dupont
January 1953, Gesnerus,
Jean-Claude Dupont
February 1964, Tijdschrift voor sociale geneeskunde,
Jean-Claude Dupont
January 2016, Journal of electrocardiology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!