Who is paul langerhans

Prior to his thesis, histologic knowledge of the pancreas was limited. For his thesis, Langerhans described nine different cells in the pancreas.

Two of the cells were surely new. One type were spindle-shaped centroacinar glandular cells that secreted digestive enzymes. These cells were scattered with another cell type with a polygonal structure, and the cells were found together in large numbers.

Langerhans found no name or function for the cells. But about 25 years later, Edouard Laguesse, a French histophysiologist, found similar cells in the pancreas.

In , the term insulin was introduced. In collaboration with Friedrich Hoffman, he demonstrated that cinnabar was taken up by the white blood corpuscles but not the red. This study led to future concepts of the reticuloendothelial system. In September , Langerhans began a one-year service as a physician in the army during the Franco-Prussian war. One year later, he became an assistant professor of pathology at the University of Freiburg.

There he continued his studies despite a full teaching load. He became a full professor in , but just a few weeks later, he was diagnosed with renal tuberculosis.

He requested a six-month leave of absence to recover but continued to work on studies involving the anatomy of marine animals. He requested an extension of his leave in but was released from his duties at the university until complete recovery. While on leave from the university, he traveled to Madeira. He graduated first in his class from school Abitur and demonstrated a special interest in science.

In , as a student in Berlin, he began his studies on the pancreas under the supervision of Rudolf Virchow. Although Langerhans himself did not continue research on the pancreas, he discussed the topic in many letters to colleagues and suggested that more attention should be paid to this organ. In the Franco-Prussian War he served as a military doctor at the front lines.

In an accelerated procedure, he submitted his Habilitation thesis in October to the University of Freiburg, where he received the coveted position of leading dissector and was appointed lecturer Privatdozent. Dermatological studies While still a student, Langerhans conducted studies on the nerve endings in the skin. More than a hundred years later it was discovered that the Langerhans cells dendritic cells in the epidermis are immunocompetent cells which play an important role in many skin diseases.

The Langerhans granular layer of the skin remained associated with his name up into the 20th century, until the dermatological term stratum granulosum became common. Author Affiliations Beaverton, Ore. Access through your institution.

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