Louis Théophile Joseph Landouzy
Encyclopedia
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, and whose father and grandfather were also physicians. He studied medicine in Reims and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, earning his doctorate in 1876. He spent much his career at the 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...
, becoming a professor of therapy in 1893 and a dean of medicine in 1901.
His name is associated with the Landouzy-Dejerine syndrome, a type of muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and hamper locomotion. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue.In the 1860s, descriptions of boys who...
with atrophic changes to the facial muscles and scapulo
Scapula
In anatomy, the scapula , omo, or shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus with the clavicle ....
-humeral
Humerus
The humerus is a long bone in the arm or forelimb that runs from the shoulder to the elbow....
region. It is named along with neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
Joseph Jules Dejerine
Joseph Jules Dejerine
Joseph Jules Dejerine , was a French neurologist.Joseph Jules Dejerine was born to French parents in Geneva, Switzerland, where his father was a carriage proprietor. During the Franco-Prussian War Dejerine worked as a volunteer in a Geneva Hospital and in the spring of 1871 decided to pursue his...
, who was a colleague and close friend. Landouzy was a witness at the wedding of Dejerine to Augusta Marie Klumpke (1859-1927) in 1888.
Landouzy's primary area of interest dealt with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, and was a major figure regarding education of the public for its eradication. He was also a member on several international committees concerning this disease.
He is credited with coining the word "camptodactyly" to describe a flexion deformity of the finger(s) at the proximal interphalangeal joint
Interphalangeal joint
Interphalangeal joint may refer to:*Interphalangeal articulations of hand*Interphalangeal articulations of foot...
(1906). With neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
Joseph Grasset
Joseph Grasset
Joseph Grasset , was a French neurologist and parapsychological investigator, born in Montpellier.He received his medical degree in Montpellier, where in 1881 he became a professor of therapy...
(1849-1918), his name is associated with the "Landouzy-Grasset Law". This law states that in lesions concerning one hemisphere of the brain, a patient will turn his head to the side of affected muscles if there is spasticity
Spasticity
Spasticity is a feature of altered skeletal muscle performance in muscle tone involving hypertonia, which is also referred to as an unusual "tightness" of muscles...
, and to the side of the cerebral lesion if there is paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
.
Sources
- Louis Landouzy @ Who Named ItWho Named ItWho Named It? is an English-language dictionary of medical eponyms and the people associated with their identification. Though this is a dictionary, many eponyms and persons are presented in extensive articles with comprehensive bibliographies. It is hosted in Norway and maintained by medical...