Robert Remak

Polish/German embryologist, physiologist, and neurologist

Robert Remak (26 July 1815 – 29 August 1865) was a German embryologist, physiologist, and neurologist, born in Posen, Prussia.

Robert Remak

Remak obtained his medical degree from Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin in 1838 specializing in neurology.[1] He worked on embryology, and also discovered unmyelinated nerve fibres and the nerve cells in the heart sometimes called Remak's ganglia. He studied under Johannes Muller at the University of Berlin.

Remak discovered that the origin of cells was by the division of pre-existing cells.[2]

Despite his accomplishments, because of his Jewish faith he was repeatedly denied full professor status until late in life, and even then was denied the usual benefits of the position.[3]

References change

  1. Kish, B. 1954. Forgotten leaders in modern medicine: Valentin, Gruby, Remak, Auerbach. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 44, Issue 2, 139–317.
  2. Magner, Lois N. A history of the life sciences. p185
  3. Silver, GA (January 1987). "Virchow, the heroic model in medicine: health policy by accolade". American Hournal of Public Health. 1 (77): 86. doi:10.2105/ajph.77.1.82. PMC 1646803. PMID 3538915. S2CID 1646803.