Alf Brodal
Encyclopedia
Alf Brodal was a Norwegian
professor of anatomy
.
as a son of the doctor of engineering Peter Brodal (1872–1935) and his wife Helene Kathrine Obenauer (1879–1934). He took the examen artium
in 1929 and the cand.med.
degree in 1937. He took the dr.med. degree in 1940 on the thesis Experimentelle Untersuchungen über die olivocerebellare Lokalisation. He was hired at the University of Oslo
in 1943, and was promoted to professor in 1950. He was a specialist in neuroanatomy
, and was particularly interested in the cerebellum
, the reticular substance and the vestibular nuclei
. He worked closely with Jan Birger Jansen
.
His books include Nevro-anatomi i relasjon til klinisk nevrologi (1943), the translation Neurological Anatomy in Relation to Clinical Medicine (1948) and Centralnervesystemet (1949). In 1973, after suffering a stroke
the previous year, he wrote an unusual article, Self-Observations and Neuro-Anatomical Considerations After a Stroke, published in the journal Brain
. He chaired the editorial committee of the Norwegian journal Tidsskrift for Den norske Lægeforening from 1959 to 1975. He also had a considerable catalogue of publications in popular science
.
Brodal served as the dean of the Faculty of Medicine from 1964 to 1966, and as vice rector from 1967 to 1969 under rector Hans Vogt
. From 1966 to 1969 he was a member of Hovedkomiteen for norsk forskning. He retired as a professor in 1977.
Brodal was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1944 to his death. He received honorary degree
s at Uppsala University
(1966), University of Paris
(1975) and the University of Oxford
(1983). He was proclaimed as a Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1969, and was promoted to Commander of the same order in 1980.
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
professor of anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
.
Career
He was born in KristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as a son of the doctor of engineering Peter Brodal (1872–1935) and his wife Helene Kathrine Obenauer (1879–1934). He took the examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1929 and the cand.med.
Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
degree in 1937. He took the dr.med. degree in 1940 on the thesis Experimentelle Untersuchungen über die olivocerebellare Lokalisation. He was hired at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1943, and was promoted to professor in 1950. He was a specialist in neuroanatomy
Neuroanatomy
Neuroanatomy is the study of the anatomy and organization of the nervous system. In contrast to animals with radial symmetry, whose nervous system consists of a distributed network of cells, animals with bilateral symmetry have segregated, defined nervous systems, and thus we can begin to speak of...
, and was particularly interested in the cerebellum
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...
, the reticular substance and the vestibular nuclei
Vestibular nuclei
The vestibular nuclei are the cranial nuclei for the vestibular nerve.In Terminologia Anatomica they are grouped in both the pons and medulla.-Subnuclei:There are 4 subnuclei; they are situated at the floor of the fourth ventricle....
. He worked closely with Jan Birger Jansen
Jan Birger Jansen
Jan Birger Jansen was a Norwegian physician, anatomist and scientist, specializing in brain research. He played an important role in the Norwegian civil resistance during the Second World War.-Personal life:...
.
His books include Nevro-anatomi i relasjon til klinisk nevrologi (1943), the translation Neurological Anatomy in Relation to Clinical Medicine (1948) and Centralnervesystemet (1949). In 1973, after suffering a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
the previous year, he wrote an unusual article, Self-Observations and Neuro-Anatomical Considerations After a Stroke, published in the journal Brain
Brain (journal)
Brain is a neurological journal published by Oxford University Press. It was edited by John Newsom-Davis from 1997 to 2004. Under his editorship it became one of the first scientific journals to go online. Since 2004 the journal is edited by Alastair Compston, Professor and Head of Department of...
. He chaired the editorial committee of the Norwegian journal Tidsskrift for Den norske Lægeforening from 1959 to 1975. He also had a considerable catalogue of publications in popular science
Popular science
Popular science, sometimes called literature of science, is interpretation of science intended for a general audience. While science journalism focuses on recent scientific developments, popular science is broad-ranging, often written by scientists as well as journalists, and is presented in many...
.
Brodal served as the dean of the Faculty of Medicine from 1964 to 1966, and as vice rector from 1967 to 1969 under rector Hans Vogt
Hans Vogt
Hans Vogt was a Norwegian linguist specialized in the Caucasian languages, especially Georgian. He also did significant early work on the Kalispel language....
. From 1966 to 1969 he was a member of Hovedkomiteen for norsk forskning. He retired as a professor in 1977.
Brodal was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1944 to his death. He received honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
(1966), University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
(1975) and the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(1983). He was proclaimed as a Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1969, and was promoted to Commander of the same order in 1980.
Personal life
Brodal was married to physiotherapist Inger Olivia Hannestad (1910–1986). He died in 1988 in BærumBærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
.