Ernst Reissner
Encyclopedia
Ernst Reissner was a Baltic German
anatomist from Riga
, Livonia
. In 1851 he received his medical degree at the University of Dorpat (now known as the University of Tartu), and in 1855 became a professor of anatomy at Dorpat. In 1875 he retired from teaching for health reasons.
Reissner is remembered for his anatomical studies of the ear
, particularly research concerning the formation of the inner ear
. By studying the embryos of birds and farm animals, he was able to determine individual stages involving the formation of the inner ears' labyrinth. From this research he was therefore able to conceptualize formation of the labyrinth in humans. Today, his name is lent to Reissner's membrane
, a membrane
inside the cochlea
of the inner ear.
Another anatomical structure that is named after him is Reissner's fiber, a refractive longitudinal nerve fiber in the central canal of the spinal cord
.
Baltic provinces
The Baltic governorates , originally the Ostsee governorates is a collective name for the administrative units of the Russian Empire set up at the territories of Swedish Estonia, Swedish Livonia and, afterwards, of Duchy of Courland and Semigallia .-History:The Treaty of Vilnius of 1561 included...
anatomist from Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
. In 1851 he received his medical degree at the University of Dorpat (now known as the University of Tartu), and in 1855 became a professor of anatomy at Dorpat. In 1875 he retired from teaching for health reasons.
Reissner is remembered for his anatomical studies of the ear
Ear
The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....
, particularly research concerning the formation of the inner ear
Inner ear
The inner ear is the innermost part of the vertebrate ear. In mammals, it consists of the bony labyrinth, a hollow cavity in the temporal bone of the skull with a system of passages comprising two main functional parts:...
. By studying the embryos of birds and farm animals, he was able to determine individual stages involving the formation of the inner ears' labyrinth. From this research he was therefore able to conceptualize formation of the labyrinth in humans. Today, his name is lent to Reissner's membrane
Reissner's membrane
Reissner's membrane is a membrane inside the cochlea of the inner ear. It separates scala media from scala vestibuli. Together with the basilar membrane it creates a compartment in the cochlea filled with endolymph, which is important for the function of the organ of Corti...
, a membrane
Biological membrane
A biological membrane or biomembrane is an enclosing or separatingmembrane that acts as a selective barrier, within or around a cell. It consists of a lipid bilayer with embedded proteins that may constitute close to 50% of membrane content...
inside the cochlea
Cochlea
The cochlea is the auditory portion of the inner ear. It is a spiral-shaped cavity in the bony labyrinth, making 2.5 turns around its axis, the modiolus....
of the inner ear.
Another anatomical structure that is named after him is Reissner's fiber, a refractive longitudinal nerve fiber in the central canal 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...
.