Eduard Friedrich Wilhelm Pflüger
Encyclopedia
Eduard Friedrich Wilhelm Pflüger (June 7, 1829 - March 16, 1910) was a German physiologist born in Hanau
.
He studied medicine at the Universities of Marburg and Berlin, earning his doctorate in 1853. While in Berlin he worked as an assistant to Emil du Bois-Reymond
(1818-1896). In 1859 he became a professor of physiology at the University of Bonn
, where he remained for the rest of his career. Among his students in Bonn were physiologist Nathan Zuntz
(1847-1920) and chemist
Hugo Paul Friedrich Schulz
(1853-1932).
Pflüger made contributions in many aspects of physiology, including embryological physiology
, respiratory physiology
, sensory physiology and electrophysiology
. The eponymous "Pflüger's law" (Pflüger's Zuckungsgesetz) is the result of his research on electrical stimulation and its correlation to muscular contraction. In 1868 he founded Archiv für die gesammte Physiologie (Pflüger's Archiv: European Journal of Physiology) which became the most influential journal of physiology in Germany.
He conducted research on intestinal peristalsis
, the sensory functions of the spinal cord
, the physiology of electrotonus, protein
metabolism
and regulation of body temperature by the nervous system
, to name a few. In one of his more important studies, he proved that respiration
takes place in the peripheral tissue rather than in the blood. He also performed extensive research of glycogen
, and is credited with the creation of several physiological instruments.
Hanau
Hanau is a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is located 25 km east of Frankfurt am Main. Its station is a major railway junction.- Geography :...
.
He studied medicine at the Universities of Marburg and Berlin, earning his doctorate in 1853. While in Berlin he worked as an assistant to Emil du Bois-Reymond
Emil du Bois-Reymond
Emil du Bois-Reymond was a German physician and physiologist, the discoverer of nerve action potential, and the father of experimental electrophysiology.-Life:...
(1818-1896). In 1859 he became a professor of physiology at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, where he remained for the rest of his career. Among his students in Bonn were physiologist Nathan Zuntz
Nathan Zuntz
Nathan Zuntz was a German physiologist born in Bonn. He was a pioneer of modern altitude physiology and aviation medicine.- Academic career :...
(1847-1920) and chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
Hugo Paul Friedrich Schulz
Hugo Paul Friedrich Schulz
Hugo Paul Friedrich Schulz was a German pharmacologist from Wesel, Rhenish Prussia. He studied medicine in the universities of Heidelberg and Bonn, where he did scientific work in the physiological institute of Eduard Friedrich Wilhelm Pflüger...
(1853-1932).
Pflüger made contributions in many aspects of physiology, including embryological physiology
Embryology
Embryology is a science which is about the development of an embryo from the fertilization of the ovum to the fetus stage...
, respiratory physiology
Respiratory physiology
Respiratory physiology is the branch of human physiology focusing upon respiration.Topics include:-Volumes:* lung volumes* vital capacity* functional residual capacity* dead space* spirometry* body plethysmography* peak flow meter-Mechanics:...
, sensory physiology and electrophysiology
Electrophysiology
Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues. It involves measurements of voltage change or electric current on a wide variety of scales from single ion channel proteins to whole organs like the heart...
. The eponymous "Pflüger's law" (Pflüger's Zuckungsgesetz) is the result of his research on electrical stimulation and its correlation to muscular contraction. In 1868 he founded Archiv für die gesammte Physiologie (Pflüger's Archiv: European Journal of Physiology) which became the most influential journal of physiology in Germany.
He conducted research on intestinal peristalsis
Peristalsis
Peristalsis is a radially symmetrical contraction and relaxation of muscles which propagates in a wave down the muscular tube, in an anterograde fashion. In humans, peristalsis is found in the contraction of smooth muscles to propel contents through the digestive tract. Earthworms use a similar...
, the sensory functions of the spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
, the physiology of electrotonus, protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
metabolism
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
and regulation of body temperature by the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
, to name a few. In one of his more important studies, he proved that respiration
Respiration (physiology)
'In physiology, respiration is defined as the transport of oxygen from the outside air to the cells within tissues, and the transport of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction...
takes place in the peripheral tissue rather than in the blood. He also performed extensive research of glycogen
Glycogen
Glycogen is a molecule that serves as the secondary long-term energy storage in animal and fungal cells, with the primary energy stores being held in adipose tissue...
, and is credited with the creation of several physiological instruments.
Selected publications
- Die sensorischen Functionen des Rückenmarks der wirbelthiere (The Sensory Functions of the Spinal Cord of VertebrateVertebrateVertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
Animals), 1853 - Experimentalbeitrag zur Theorie der Hemmungsnerven (Experimental Contribution to the Theory of Neural Inhibition) In: Archiv für Anatomie, Physiologie und wissenschaftliche Medicin. 1859, S. 13–29
- Ueber ein neues Reagens zur Darstellung des Axencylinders (About a New ReagentReagentA reagent is a "substance or compound that is added to a system in order to bring about a chemical reaction, or added to see if a reaction occurs." Although the terms reactant and reagent are often used interchangeably, a reactant is less specifically a "substance that is consumed in the course of...
for the Visualization of Axon-cylinders) In: Archiv für Anatomie, Physiologie und wissenschaftliche Medicin. 1859, S. 132 - Ueber die Ursache des Oeffnungstetanus (On the Cause of "Oeffnungtetanus") In: Archiv für Anatomie, Physiologie und wissenschaftliche Medicin. 1859, S. 133–148
- Ueber die Bewegungen der Ovarien (On the Movements of the Ovaries) In: Archiv für Anatomie, Physiologie und wissenschaftliche Medicin. 1859, S. 30–32
- Uber die Eierstöcke der Säugetiere und des Menschen (On the Ovaries of Mammals and Humans), 1863
- Uber die Kohlemsäure des Blute (On Carbon DioxideCarbon dioxideCarbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
in the Blood), 1864 - Bemerkungen zur Physiologie des centralen Nervensystems (Remarks on the Physiology of the Central Nervous System) In: Archiv für die gesammte Physiologie des Menschen und der Thiere. Band 15, 1877, S. 150–152
- Wesen und Aufgaben der Physiologie (The Nature and Role of Physiology), 1878
- Lehrbuch der Psychiatrie für Aerzte und Studirende (Textbook of PsychiatryPsychiatryPsychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
for Doctors and Students), 1883 - Neurasthenie (Nervenschwäche), ihr Wesen, ihre Bedeutung und Behandlung vom anatomisch-physiologischen Standpunkte für Aerzte und Studirende (NeurastheniaNeurastheniaNeurasthenia is a psycho-pathological term first used by George Miller Beard in 1869 to denote a condition with symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, headache, neuralgia and depressed mood...
, its Essence, Significance and Treatment from an Anatomic-Physiological Standpoint for Doctors and Students), 1885 - Die Quelle der Muskelkraft (The Source of Muscle Strength), 1891
- Das Glykogen und seine Beziehungen zur Zuckerkrankheit (Glycogen and its Relationship to Diabetes), 1905
External links
- http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=1319091&pageindex=1 Pflüger's Law of Contraction Explained, Journal of Anatomy
- http://books.google.com/books?id=X6skaZlZNdsC&pg=PA245&lpg=PA245&dq=Pfluger+%22Carl+Ludwig%22+blood&source=bl&ots=OcQu4VTXlD&sig=QJAw4oKhvLx0L8fI8IYC23fjsLs&hl=en&ei=k9sOSqSYDuagmAeP7_2BCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6 Proteins, enzymes, genes by Joseph Stewart Fruton