Göran Liljestrand
Encyclopedia
Göran Liljestrand Swedish pharmacologist, known for the discovery of the Euler-Liljestrand mechanism
.
Liljestrand was born in Gothenburg
but finished school at the Norra Real
school in Stockholm
, before matriculating at the University College of Stockholm
in 1904. He continued his studies at the Karolinska Institute, completed his medicine kandidat degree in 1909, the medicine licentiat degree in 1915, and his doctorate in 1917, becoming docent
of physiology
at the Institute the same year. He held the professorship in pharmacology
and physiology
at the Karolinska Institute from 1927 to 1951.
Liljestrand was trained as a physiologist under Professor Jöns Johansson but became known mainly as a pharmacologist and for his cooperation with Ulf von Euler
(later Nobel
laureate of Medicine and Physiology) and Yngve Zotterman
. He was secretary of the Nobel Committee
of the Karolinska Institute for 40 years. In 1938, he was made a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
.
Euler-Liljestrand mechanism
The Euler–Liljestrand mechanism describes the connection between ventilation and blood circulation of the lung. If the ventilation in a part of the lung decreases, this leads to local hypoxia and to vasoconstriction in that part. This adaptive mechanism is beneficial, because it diminishes the...
.
Liljestrand was born in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
but finished school at the Norra Real
Norra Real
Norra Real, "Northern Real" , is an upper-secondary school located on Roslagsgatan 1 in Stockholm, Sweden. The school was officially founded in 1890, but was already mentioned early into the 14th century and is the oldest upper-secondary school in Stockholm. Until 1961 it was an all-boys school...
school in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, before matriculating at the University College of Stockholm
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
in 1904. He continued his studies at the Karolinska Institute, completed his medicine kandidat degree in 1909, the medicine licentiat degree in 1915, and his doctorate in 1917, becoming docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
of physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
at the Institute the same year. He held the professorship in pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
and physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
at the Karolinska Institute from 1927 to 1951.
Liljestrand was trained as a physiologist under Professor Jöns Johansson but became known mainly as a pharmacologist and for his cooperation with Ulf von Euler
Ulf von Euler
Ulf Svante von Euler was a Swedish physiologist and pharmacologist. He won a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1970 for his work on neurotransmitters.-Life:...
(later Nobel
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
laureate of Medicine and Physiology) and Yngve Zotterman
Yngve Zotterman
Yvnge Zotterman was a Swedish neurophysiologist who received his medical training at the Karolinska Institute. He conducted pioneering studies on nerve conduction...
. He was secretary of the Nobel Committee
Nobel Committee
A Nobel Committee is the working body responsible for the most of the work involved in selecting Nobel Prize laureates. There are five Nobel Committees, one for each Nobel Prize....
of the Karolinska Institute for 40 years. In 1938, he was made a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
.