Embryology History

From Embryology
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العربية | català | 中文 | 中國傳統的 | français | Deutsche | עִברִית | हिंदी | bahasa Indonesia | italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | မြန်မာ | Pilipino | Polskie | português | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ | Română | русский | Español | Swahili | Svensk | ไทย | Türkçe | اردو | ייִדיש | Tiếng Việt    These external translations are automated and may not be accurate. (More? About Translations)

Introduction

These notes are intended to give some historic background to Embryology. Historically, say pre-20th century, Embryology was not easily separated from Medicine, Anatomy and Physiology and other biological sciences. I have also divided, for brevity, into pre-20th century, pre-molecular (lets call it 70's) and the current molecular embryology.

This page also links to full versions of historic embryology textbooks and papers.

Historic Disclaimer - information about historic embryology pages 
Mark Hill.jpg
Pages where the terms "Historic" (textbooks, papers, people, recommendations) appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms, interpretations and recommendations may not reflect our current scientific understanding.     (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers)


History Links: Historic Embryology Papers | Historic Embryology Textbooks | Embryologists | Historic Vignette | Historic Periods | Historic Terminology | Human Embryo Collections | Carnegie Contributions | 17-18th C Anatomies | Embryology Models | Category:Historic Embryology
Historic Papers: 1800's | 1900's | 1910's | 1920's | 1930's | 1940's | 1950's | 1960's | 1970's | 1980's


Embryologists: William Hunter | Wilhelm Roux | Caspar Wolff | Wilhelm His | Oscar Hertwig | Julius Kollmann | Hans Spemann | Francis Balfour | Charles Minot | Ambrosius Hubrecht | Charles Bardeen | Franz Keibel | Franklin Mall | Florence Sabin | George Streeter | George Corner | James Hill | Jan Florian | Thomas Bryce | Thomas Morgan | Ernest Frazer | Francisco Orts-Llorca | José Doménech Mateu | Frederic Lewis | Arthur Meyer | Robert Meyer | Erich Blechschmidt | Klaus Hinrichsen | Hideo Nishimura | Arthur Hertig | John Rock | Viktor Hamburger | Mary Lyon | Nicole Le Douarin | Robert Winston | Fabiola Müller | Ronan O'Rahilly | Robert Edwards | John Gurdon | Shinya Yamanaka | Embryology History | Category:People
Related Histology Researchers  
Santiago Ramón y Cajal | Camillo Golgi


Embryology History: 1600-1699 | 1700-1799 | 1800-1899 | 1900-1909 | 1910-1919 | 1920-1929 | 1930-1939 | 1940-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | Historic Papers | Embryologists
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Mark Hill.jpg Students by definition are learning about a topic, so it would seem contrary to the function of an educational site to include information that may be either incorrect or inaccurate. On the other hand, I think it is also important to understand how we achieved our current understanding of embryology and the researchers, discoverers and educators who have made important contributions.

I therefore offer the following student study suggestions: Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced

Beginner students

You are just starting your studies and trying to understand basic embryology and development concepts.


Should probably avoid any content on the site labeled "Historic". The content may confuse or mislead your understanding of basic concepts in embryology and development. Begin with the notes pages linked from the image on the Main Page, or from the Site Map (excluding the history section of site).

Also be careful when viewing images and descriptions that appear as "additional images" or when using the "category" links at the bottom of pages.

Intermediate students

You have a general understanding of embryology and development concepts.


This means you have attended some lectures and practical classes, worked through some of the site notes pages, or studied an embryology textbook. I would still suggest caution when approaching historic material, be sure that you understand the current embryology theories. General observations of how long development takes and the appearance of the human and animal models embryos at different times will not have changed!

Historic images are generally more accurate than some of the accompanying notes pages where the images appear. Some of the labeled structures may have historic names that have been updated or changed in current descriptions, if in doubt use the Glossary. You may also note how many of the textbook images have been based upon some of these historic drawing.

Advanced students

You have a good understanding of embryology and development concepts.


This means that you not only understand, but can also explain clearly to others key developmental concepts. This also implies you understand the differences between recent findings, current controversies and research directions. Now is the time to confidently look back through the historic materials.

These historic materials will provide a context of how we arrived at our current understanding. Importantly, note the date on the page and consider what scientific techniques were available at that time and concurrent discoveries in biology and science.

How will I know that I am an advanced student? You should be able to identify concepts that remain and are applied today as well as those which have been updated or proved to be incorrect. Please also feel free to contact me with mistakes you have identified on this educational site.


Standing on the shoulders of giants.

Essays on the History of Embryology

Arthur William Meyer (1873 – 1966)
Arthur William Meyer (1873 – 1966)

A series of short paper published by Arthur William Meyer (1873 – 1966) between 1931 and 1932.

This series of essays by Arthur William Meyer published in the 1930's give an excellent overview of embryology through time.


Meyer AW. 1932 - Essays on the History of Embryology: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Arthur Meyer | Historic Embryology Papers


Needham J. A History of Embryology. (1959) Cambridge University Press, London.

Contributions to Embryology

Carnegie Institute of Washington logo.jpg
George L. Streeter, series editor1917 to 1940.

A historic series of papers published by the Carnegie Institution of Washington early in the 20th Century.


Historic Textbooks

These historic textbooks are listed chronologically below.

Educational History of the Genitalia

Johannes Müller (1801-1858)
Title Page Educational History of the Genitalia of Anatomica Studies on Embryos of Humans and Animals By Johannes Müller (1850)


A Study Of The Critical Period And Its Effects In Mammalia

Beard J. The span of gestation and the cause of birth - A study of the critical period and its effects in mammalia. (1897) Jena. Gustav Fischer, Leipzig.

A Very Young Ovum In Situ

Leopold G. A Very Young Ovum In Situ (1907) translated by Vogt WH. CV Mosby and Co. St Louis.

The Elements of Embryology

Sir Michael Foster (1836 – 1907)
Foster Balfour Sedgwick and Heap 1883.jpg

Volume 1

By Foster, M., Balfour, F. M., Sedgwick, A., & Heape, W. (1883) The History of the Chick: Egg structure and incubation beginning | Summary whole incubation | First day | Second day - first half | Second day - second half | Third day | Fourth day | Fifth day | Sixth day to incubation end | Appendix

Volume 2

By Foster, M., Balfour, F. M., Sedgwick, A., & Heape, W. (1883) The History of the Mammalian Embryo: General Development | Embryonic Membranes and Yolk-Sac | Organs in Mammalia | Organs from Mesoblast | Alimentary Canal | Appendix | Figures

Fathers of Biology

Fathers of Biology By Charles McRae (1890)


Text-Book of the Embryology of Man and Mammals

Oskar Hertwig (1849 – 1922)
Hertwig 1892.jpg By Hertwig, O. (1892) Text-Book of the Embryology of Man and Mammals
Description of the Sexual Products | The Phenomena of the Maturation of the Egg and the Process of Fertilisation | The Process of Cleavage | General Discussion of the Principles of Development | The Development of the Two Primary Germ-Layers | The Development of the Two Middle Germ-Layers | History of the Germ-Layer Theory | Development of the Primitive Segments | Development of Connective Substance and Blood | Establishment of the External Form of the Body | The Foetal Membranes of Reptiles and Birds | The Foetal Membranes of Mammals | The Foetal Membranes of Man | The Organs of the Inner Germ-Layer - The Alimentary Tube with its Appended Organs | The Organs of the Outer Germ-Layer | The Development of the Nervous System | The Development of the Sensory Organs | The Development of the Skin and its Accessory Organs | The Organs of the Intermediate Layer or Mesenchyme | The Development of the Blood-vessel System | The Development of the Skeleton

Ectopic Pregnancy

Webster, GJ. Ectopic Pregnancy - Its Etiology, Classification, Embryology, Diagnosis , and Treatment (1895)

A Critical Period in the Development of the Horse

Ewart1897.jpg A Critical Period in the Development of the Horse

by Ewart, J.C. (1897)

London: Adam and Charles Black.

Human Embryology

Charles Sedgwick Minot (1852–1914)
Minot1897 titlepage.jpg Human Embryology

by Charles Sedgwick Minot (1897)

New York; The Macmillan Company

Human Embryology: Introduction | The Uterus | General Outline of Human Development | The Genital Products | History of the Genoblasts and the Theory of Sex | The Germ-Layers | Segmentation | Primitive Streak | Mesoderm and the Coelom | Germ-Layers General Remarks | The Embryo | The Medullary Groove, Notochord and Neurenteric Canals | Coelom Divisions; Mesenchyma Origin | Blood, Blood-Vessels and Heart Origin | Urogenital System Origin | The Archenteron and the Gill Clefts | Germinal Area, the Embryo and its Appendages | The Foetal Appendages | Chorion | Amnion and Proamnion | The Yolk Sack, Allantois and Umbilical Cord | Placenta | The Foetus | Growth and External Development Embryo and Foetus | Mesenchymal Tissues | Skeleton and Limbs | Muscular System | Splanchnocoele and Diaphragm | Urogenital System | Transformations of the Heart and Blood-Vessels | The Epidermal System | Mouth Cavity and Face | The Nervous System | Sense Organs | Entodermal Canal | Figures | References | Embryology History

Human Embryology and Morphology

Keith 1902.jpg
Sir Arthur Keith (1866 - 1955)
Arthur Keith (1866 - 1955)

Human Embryology and Morphology by Arthur Keith (1902) first edn.

Human Embryology and Morphology (1902): Development or the Face | The Nasal Cavities and Olfactory Structures | Development of the Pharynx and Neck | Development of the Organ of Hearing | Development and Morphology of the Teeth | The Skin and its Appendages | The Development of the Ovum of the Foetus from the Ovum of the Mother | The Manner in which a Connection is Established between the Foetus and Uterus | The Uro-genital System | Formation of the Pubo-femoral Region, Pelvic Floor and Fascia | The Spinal Column and Back | The Segmentation of the Body | The Cranium | Development of the Structures concerned in the Sense of Sight | The Brain and Spinal Cord | Development of the Circulatory System | The Respiratory System | The Organs of Digestion | The Body Wall, Ribs, and Sternum | The Limbs | Figures
Keith1921.jpg Human Embryology and Morphology by Arthur Keith (1921) fourth edn.

Human Embryology and Morphology: 1 Early Ovum and Embryo | 2 Connection between Foetus and Uterus | 3 Primitive Streak Notochord and Somites | 4 Age Changes | 5 Spinal Column and Back | 6 Body Segmentation | 7 Spinal Cord | 8 Mid- and Hind-Brains | 9 Fore-Brain | 10 Fore-Brain Cerebral Vesicles | 11 Cranium | 12 Face | 13 Teeth and Mastication | 14 Nasal and Olfactory | 15 Sense OF Sight | 16 Hearing | 17 Pharynx and Neck | 18 Tongue, Thyroid and Pharynx | 19 Organs of Digestion | 20 Circulatory System | 21 Circulatory System (continued) | 22 Respiratory System | 23 Urogenital System | 24 Urogenital System (Continued) | 25 Body Wall and Pelvic Floor | 26 Limb Buds | 27 Limbs | 28 Skin and Appendages | Figures

The Embryology Anatomy and Histology of the Eye

Brown 1906.jpg By Brown, E.J. (1906) The Embryology Anatomy and Histology of the Eye: Embryology | Anatomy | Histology | Figures

A Text-book of Embryology

Heisler 1907.jpg A Text-book of Embryology by John Clement Heisler (1907)

Heisler JC. A text-book of embryology for students of medicine. 3rd Edn. (1907) W.B. Saunders Co. London.

   Text-book of Embryology 1907: 1 Male and Female Sexual Elements - Fertilization | 2 Ovum Segmentation - Blastodermic Vesicle | 3 Germ-layers - Primitive Streak | 4 Embryo Differentiation - Neural Canal - Somites | 5 Body-wall - Intestinal Canal - Fetal Membranes | 6 Decidual Ovum Embedding - Placenta - Umbilical Cord | 7 External Body Form | 8 Connective Tissues - Lymphatic System | 9 Face and Mouth | 10 Vascular System | 11 Digestive System | 12 Respiratory System | 13 Genito-urinary System | 14 Skin and Appendages | 15 Nervous System | 16 Sense Organs | 17 Muscular System | 18 Skeleton and Limbs

Atlas of the Development of Man (Vol 1 and 2)

Julius Konstantin Ernst Kollmann (1834-1918)
Kollmann-title page volume 1.jpg Handatlas der entwicklungsgeschichte des menschen By Kollmann, J. (1907)
Kollmann Atlas 1: Predevelopment | Ontogeny | Fetal membranes | Body shape | Systems and organs | Kollmann Atlas 1 | Kollmann Atlas 2 | Julius Kollmann
Kollmann Atlas 2: Gastrointestinal | Respiratory | Urogenital | Cardiovascular | Neural | Integumentary | Smell | Vision | Hearing | Kollmann Atlas 1 | Kollmann Atlas 2 | Julius Kollmann


Contributions to the Study of the Early Development and Imbedding of the Human Ovum

Book - Contributions to the Study of the Early Development and Imbedding of the Human Ovum (1908)

Paper No I. An Early Ovum imbedded in the Decidua

Paper No. II. An Early Ovarian Pregnancy

Image of Thomas Hastie Bryce
Thomas Hastie Bryce (1862 - 1946)

Normal Plates of the Development of Vertebrates

Normal Plates of the Development of Vertebrates series

Franz Keibel (1861 - 1929)
Keibel1908 titlepage.jpg

series editor Franz Keibel


Stoehr's Histology

Lewis, FT. Stoehr's Histology. (1906) P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Philadelphia.

Manual of Human Embryology

Franklin Mall (1862 - 1917)
Keibel Mall 1910.jpg by Franz Keibel and Franklin P. Mall (1910)
   Manual of Human Embryology I 1910: The Germ Cells | Fertilization | Segmentation | First Primitive Segment | Gastrulation | External Form | Placenta | Human Embryo and Fetus Age | Ovum Pathology | Integument | Skeleton and Connective Tissues | Muscular System | Coelom and Diaphragm | Figures | Manual of Human Embryology 1 | Manual of Human Embryology 2 | Franz Keibel | Franklin Mall | Embryology History
Keibel Mall 1912.jpg
   Manual of Human Embryology II 1912: Nervous System | Chromaffin Organs and Suprarenal Bodies | Sense-Organs | Digestive Tract and Respiration | Vascular System | Urinogenital Organs | Figures 2 | Manual of Human Embryology 1 | Figures 1 | Manual of Human Embryology 2 | Figures 2 | Franz Keibel | Franklin Mall | Embryology History

Vertebrate Embryology

By

J. W. Jenkinson (1913)


Vertebrate Embryology 1913: 1 Introduction | 2 Growth | 3 The Germ-Cells, their Origin and Structure | 4 The Germ- Cells, their Maturation and Fertilization | 5 Segmentation | 6 The Germinal Layers | 7 The Early Stages in the Development of the Embryo | 8 The Foetal Membranes of the Mammalia | 9 The Placenta | Figures


Outlines of Chordate Development

Kellicott 1913.jpg

by Kellicott, W.E. (1913)

   Outlines of Chordate Development 1913: 1. Amphioxus | 2. Early Frog | 3. Later Frog Organogeny | 4. Early Chick - Embryonic Membranes and Appendages | 5. Later Chick - Organogeny | 6. Early Mammal - Embryonic Membranes and Appendages | Figures

The Development of the Human Body - A Manual of Human Embryology

McMurrich JP. The Development Of The Human Body. (1914) P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


The Development of the Albino Rat - Mus Norvegicus Albinus

Huber 1915.jpg By G. Carl Huber
Normal: Introduction | Materials and Methods | Ovulation, Maturation and Fertilization | Pronuclear Stage | Segmentation Stages | 2-ceIl stage | 4-ceIl stage | 12 to 16-ceIl stages | Summary of segmentation stages | Completion of segmentation and blastodermic vesicle formation | Blastodermic vesicle | Late stages blastodermic vesicle | Egg-cylinder formation | Late stages in egg-cylinder | Conclusions | Literature cited | Figures
Abnormal: Introduction | Half Embryos in Mammalia | Degeneration of ova at the end of segmentation | Incomplete or retarded segmentation | Abnormal segmentation cavity formation | Degeneration of ova as a result of pathologic mucosa | Imperfect development of ectodermal vesicle | Two egg-cylinders in one decidual crypt | Conclusions | Literature cited


Contributions to the Development of the Human Brain

Hochstadter 1919.jpg Beiträge zur Entwicklungsgeschichte des menschlichen Gehirns

By Ferdinand Hochstädter

Contributions to the History of Development of the Human Brain

Extra-uterine Pregnancy

Schumann1921 titlepage.jpg Schumann EA. Extra-uterine pregnancy (1921) D. Appleton And Company, New York London 1921.

The Frog Its Reproduction and Development

Rugh 1951.jpg By Roberts Rugh, Ph.D.
Frog Development (1951): 1 Introduction | 2 Rana pipiens | 3 Reproductive System | 4 Fertilization | 5 Cleavage | 6 Blastulation | 7 Gastrulation | 8 Neurulation | 9 Early Embryo Changes | 10 Later Embryo or Larva | 11 Ectodermal Derivatives | 12 Endodermal Derivatives | 13 Mesodermal Derivatives | 14 Summary of Organ Appearance | 15 Glossary | 16 Bibliography | Figures

A Laboratory Manual and Text-book of Embryology

Prentiss 1918.jpg By Charles William Prentiss (1917)
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العربية | català | 中文 | 中國傳統的 | français | Deutsche | עִברִית | हिंदी | bahasa Indonesia | italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | မြန်မာ | Pilipino | Polskie | português | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ | Română | русский | Español | Swahili | Svensk | ไทย | Türkçe | اردو | ייִדיש | Tiếng Việt    These external translations are automated and may not be accurate. (More? About Translations)

Prentiss CW. and Arey LB. A laboratory manual and text-book of embryology. (1918) W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia and London.

Human Embryology 1918: The Germ Cells | Germ Layers | Chick Embryos | Fetal Membranes | Pig Embryos | Dissecting Pig Embryos | Entodermal Canal | Urogenital System | Vascular System | Histogenesis | Skeleton and Muscles | Central Nervous System | Peripheral Nervous System | Embryology History
Historic Disclaimer - information about historic embryology pages 
Mark Hill.jpg
Pages where the terms "Historic" (textbooks, papers, people, recommendations) appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms, interpretations and recommendations may not reflect our current scientific understanding.     (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers)
(Text at early stage of editing, images to be added)

The Early Embryology of the Chick

Patten 1920.jpg By Patten, B.M. (1920) The Early Embryology of the Chick: Introduction | Gametes and Fertilization | Segmentation | Entoderm | Primitive Streak and Mesoderm | Primitive Streak to Somites | 24 Hours | 24 to 33 Hours | 33 to 39 Hours | 40 to 50 Hours | Extra-embryonic Membranes | 50 to 55 Hours | Day 3 to 4 | References | Figures

Text-Book of Embryology

Bailey and Miller 1921.jpg By Bailey, F.R. and Miller, A.M. (1921) Text-Book of Embryology: Germ cells | Maturation | Fertilization | Amphioxus | Frog | Chick | Mammalian | External body form | Connective tissues and skeletal | Vascular | Muscular | Alimentary tube and organs | Respiratory | Coelom, Diaphragm and Mesenteries | Urogenital | Integumentary | Nervous System | Special Sense | Foetal Membranes | Teratogenesis

Human Embryology and Morphology

Human Embryology and Morphology by Arthur Keith (1921)

Note this textbook by Arthur Keith has the same name as his earlier 1902 edition Human Embryology and Morphology. This later edition incorporates new findings mainly from Mall and Keibel's work.

Congenital Cardiac Disease

Maude Abbott (1869 – 1940)
Abbott 1915.jpg By Maude E. Abbott (1915) Congenital Cardiac Disease Philadelphia and New York: Lea & Febiger 1915.


Embryology - 19 Mar 2024    Facebook link Pinterest link Twitter link  Expand to Translate  
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العربية | català | 中文 | 中國傳統的 | français | Deutsche | עִברִית | हिंदी | bahasa Indonesia | italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | မြန်မာ | Pilipino | Polskie | português | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ | Română | русский | Español | Swahili | Svensk | ไทย | Türkçe | اردو | ייִדיש | Tiếng Việt    These external translations are automated and may not be accurate. (More? About Translations)

Abbott ME. Congenital Cardiac Disease (1915) Osler & Mccrae's Modern Medicine 6, 2nd Edition.

Historic Disclaimer - information about historic embryology pages 
Mark Hill.jpg
Pages where the terms "Historic" (textbooks, papers, people, recommendations) appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms, interpretations and recommendations may not reflect our current scientific understanding.     (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers)
1915 Congenital Cardiac: Congenital Cardiac Disease | Heart Development | Literature | Etiology | Cyanosis | Classification | Pericardium | Heart Displacement | Whole Heart | Anomalous Septa | Interauricular Septum | Interventricular Septum | Absence of Cardiac Septa | Aortic Septum | Pulmonary Stenosis and Atresia | Pulmonary Artery Dilatation | Aortic Stenosis or Atresia | Primary Patency and Ductus Arteriosus | Aorta Coarctation | Aorta Hypoplasia | Diagnosis Prognosis and Treatment | Figures | Embryology History | Historic Disclaimer


The Eggs of Mammals

Pincus 1936.jpg By Gregory Pincus (1936) The Eggs of Mammals New York, The Macmillan Company 1936.


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العربية | català | 中文 | 中國傳統的 | français | Deutsche | עִברִית | हिंदी | bahasa Indonesia | italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | မြန်မာ | Pilipino | Polskie | português | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ | Română | русский | Español | Swahili | Svensk | ไทย | Türkçe | اردو | ייִדיש | Tiếng Việt    These external translations are automated and may not be accurate. (More? About Translations)

Pincus G. The Eggs of Mammals. (1936) The Macmillan Company, New York.

Historic Disclaimer - information about historic embryology pages 
Mark Hill.jpg
Pages where the terms "Historic" (textbooks, papers, people, recommendations) appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms, interpretations and recommendations may not reflect our current scientific understanding.     (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers)

The Eggs of Mammals

The Eggs of Mammals (1936): Introduction | The Origin of the Definitive Ova | The Growth of the Ovum | The Development and Atresia of Full-Grown Ova and the Problem of Ovarian Parthenogenesis | Methods Employed in the Experimental Manipulation of Mammalian Ova | The Tubal History of Unfertilized Eggs | Fertilization and Cleavage | The Activation of Unfertilized Eggs | The Growth and Implantation of the Blastodermic Vesicle | Summary and Recapitulation | Bibliography | Figures | Historic Disclaimer

Anatomy of the Human Body

Gray 1918.jpg By Henry Gray (1918) Gray's Anatomy Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918.


Gray's Images: Development | Lymphatic | Neural | Vision | Hearing | Somatosensory | Integumentary | Respiratory | Gastrointestinal | Urogenital | Endocrine | Surface Anatomy | iBook | Historic Disclaimer


Quain's Elements of Anatomy

Quains Elements of Anatomy 1878.jpg By Jones Quain Elements of Anatomy edited by Sharpey, Thompson and Schäfer 1878.


1878 Elements of Anatomy: The Ovum | The Blastoderm | Fetal Membranes | Placenta | Musculoskeletal | Neural | Gastrointesinal | Respiratory | Cardiovascular | Urogenital

The Hormones in Human Reproduction

Corner GW. The Hormones in Human Reproduction. (1942) Princeton University Press.

Vertebrate Zoology

Vertebrate Zoology by G. R. de Beer (1928)

On the Origin of Species

Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882)
Darwin 1859.jpg By Charles Darwin On the Origin of Species 1859.
Origin of Species: Variation under Domestication | Variation under Nature | Struggle for Existence | Natural Selection | Laws of Variation | Difficulties on Theory | Instinct | Hybridism | On the Imperfection of the Geological Record | On the Geological Succession of Organic Beings | Geographical Distribution | Geographical Distribution -- continued | Mutual Affinities of Organic Beings: Morphology: Embryology: Rudimentary Organs | Recapitulation and Conclusion | PDF version | Embryology History

Evolution and Genetics

Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866-1945)
Morgan1925.jpg By Morgan, T. H. (1925). Evolution and genetics. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Evolution and Genetics: 1 Different Kinds of Evolution | 2 Four Great Historical Speculations | 3 Evidence for Organic Evolution | 4 Materials of Evolution | 5 Mendel's Two Laws of Heredity | 6 Chromosomes and Mendel’s Two Laws | 7 Linkage Groups and the Chromosomes | 8 Sex-Linked Inheritance | 9 Crossing-over | 10 Natural Selection and Evolution | 11 Origin of Species by Natural Selection | 12 Non-Inheritance of Acquired Characters | 13 Human Inheritance | Figures

Developmental Stages in Human Embryos

BY O'Rahilly, R. and Müller, F. (1987).

Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 637.

1987 Stages: Introduction | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | References | Appendix 1 | Appendix 2 | Historic Papers | Embryonic Development

The Emergence of Experimental Embryology in the United States

Hilfer1990 cover.jpg The Emergence of Experimental Embryology in the United States by S. Robert Hilfer, Ph.D. 1990.

A History of Science

Williams 1904.jpg A History of Science by Henry Smith Williams, M.D., LL.D. assisted by Edward H. Williams, M.D. (1904) Arabian Medicine | Mediaeval Science in the West | The Great Anatomists | The coming of Harvey | Leeuwenhoek Discovers Bacteria | Medicine in the 16th and 17th Century | Philosopher-Scientists and new Institutions | 18th Century Anatomy and Physiology Part 1 | 18th Century Anatomy and Physiology Part 2 | 18th Century Anatomy and Physiology Part 3 | 19th Century Anatomy and Physiology Part 1 | 19th Century Anatomy and Physiology Part 2 | 19th Century Anatomy and Physiology Part 3 | Theories Of Evolution Part 1 | Theories Of Evolution Part 2 | 18th Century Medicine | 19th Century Medicine Part 1 | 19th Century Medicine Part 2 | Brain and Mind | Brain Structure


Links: A History of Science


Historic Journals

Some of the historic journals listed below are continuing to be published today.

Journal of Anatomy

The Journal of Anatomy is an international peer-reviewed journal sponsored by the Anatomical Society (UK). It was originally published (1867 to 1916) as J Anatomy and Physiology and from 1916 became the Journal of Anatomy.

American Journal of Anatomy

Amer. J Anat.: 1 - 1901-02 | 2 - 1902-03 | 3 - 1904 | 4 - 1905 | 5 - 1906 | 6 - 1906-07 | 7 - 1907-08 | 8 - 1908 | 9 - 1909 | 10 - 1910 | 11 - 1910-11 | 12 - 1911-12 | 13 - 1912 | 14 - 1912-13 | 15 - 1913-14 | 16 - 1914 | 17 - 1914-15 | 18 - 1915 | 19 - 1916 | 20 - 1916 | 21 - 1917 | 22 - 1917 | 23 - 1918 | 25 - 1919 | 26 - 1919-20 | 27 - 1920 | 28 - 1920-21 | 29 - 1921 | 30 - 1922
Historic Journals: Amer. J Anat. | Am J Pathol. | Anat. Rec. | J Morphol. | J Anat. | J Comp. Neurol. | Johns Hopkins Med. J | Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A | J Physiol. | Ref. Handb. Med. Sci. | J Exp. Zool. | Yale J Biol. Med. | Anat. Anz. | Memoirs of the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology | Quart. Rev. Biol.
Links: Historic Journals | Association of American Anatomists | Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology | Wliey - Developmental Dynamics | Internet Archive | biodiversity library

The Anatomical Record

Anat. Rec.: 1 - 1906-08 | 2 - 1908 | 3 - 1909 | 4 - 1910 | 5 - 1911 | 6 - 1912 | 7 - 1913 | 8 - 1914 | 9 - 1915 | 10 - 1915-16 | 11 - 1917 | 12 - 1917 | 13 - 1917 | 14 - 1918 | 15 - 1918-19 | 16 - 1919 | 17 - 1919 | 18 - 1920 | 19 - 1920 | 21-22 - 1921 | 23-24 - 1922
Links: Historic Embryology Papers
Historic Journals: Amer. J Anat. | Am J Pathol. | Anat. Rec. | J Morphol. | J Anat. | J Comp. Neurol. | Johns Hopkins Med. J | Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A | J Physiol. | Ref. Handb. Med. Sci. | J Exp. Zool. | Yale J Biol. Med. | Anat. Anz. | Memoirs of the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology | Quart. Rev. Biol.

Journal of Morphology

J Morphol. : 1 - 1887 | 2 - 1888-89 | 3 - 1889 | 4 - 1890 | 5 - 1891 | 6 - 1892 | 7 - 1892 | 8 - 1893 | 9 - 1894 | 10 - 1895 | 11 - 1895 | 12 - 1896 | 13 - 1897 | 14 - 1897-98 | 15 - 1898 | 16 - 1899-1900 | 17 - 1901 | 18 - 1903 | 19 - 1908 | 20 - 1909 | 21 - 1910 | 22 - 1911 | 23 - 1912 | 24 - 1913 | 25 - 1914 | 26 - 1915 | 27 - 1916 | 28 - 1916-17 | 29 - 1917 | 30 - 1917-18 | 31 - 1918 | 32 - 1918 | 33 - 1919-20 | 34 - 1920 | 35 - 1921 | 36 - 1921-22 | 40 - 1928 | 47 - 1929 | 51 - 1931 | 52 - 1931 |
Historic Journals: Amer. J Anat. | Am J Pathol. | Anat. Rec. | J Morphol. | J Anat. | J Comp. Neurol. | Johns Hopkins Med. J | Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A | J Physiol. | Ref. Handb. Med. Sci. | J Exp. Zool. | Yale J Biol. Med. | Anat. Anz. | Memoirs of the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology | Quart. Rev. Biol.
Links: Historic Journals | Historic Embryology Papers


The Johns Hopkins Medical Journal

Historic Papers

See new page - Historic Embryology Papers



More Historic Papers
Historic Paper Links: 13-14 Somites | 22 Somites | 23 Somites | 25 Somites | 27 Somites | Mall Human Embryo Collection | Embryology History | Carnegie stage 11 | Carnegie stage 12 | Journal of Anatomy | Embryonic Development | Category:Historic Embryology

Timeline

Long Ago

Francesco Redi

1626 Spiegel and Casseri: De formato foetu liber singularis (1626) Adriaan van den Spiegel (1578-1625) Published posthumously by Spigelius' son-in-law, the physician Liberalis L. Crema of Padua.

1668 Regnier de Graaf (1641 - 1673), a Dutch physician and anatomist. Doctoral thesis on the pancreas, identified the function of the ovarian follicle (named Graafian follicle), the final mature antral follicle released by ovulation.

  • De Graaf R. De virorum organis generationi inservientibus, de clysteribus et de usu siphonis in anatomia. Ex officina Hackiana, Lugd. Batav. et Roterod. 1668.
  • De Graaf R. De mulierum organis generationi inservientibus tractatus novus. Ex officina Hackiana, Lugd. Batav. 1672.
  • R. De Graaf. Alle de wercken, Abraham Abrahamse, Amsterdam (1686).

References:

  • Houtzager HL. Reinier De Graaf and his contribution to reproductive biology. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2000 Jun;90(2):125-7. No abstract available.
  • Jay V. A portrait in history. The legacy of Reinier de Graaf. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000 Aug;124(8):1115-6. No abstract available.
  • Setchell BP. The contributions of Regnier de Graaf to reproductive biology. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1974;4(1):1-13. No abstract available.
  • Wiesemann C. [Regnier de Graaf (1641-1673)] Pathologe. 1991 Nov;12(6):352-3. German. No abstract available.
  • Mann RJ. Regnier de Graaf, 1641-1673, investigator. Fertil Steril. 1976 Apr;27(4):466-8. No abstract available.
  • Modlin IM. Regnier de Graaf: Paris, purging, and the pancreas. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2000 Mar;30(2):109-13. No abstract available.


1690 Bidloo, Govard (1649 - 1713) Ontleding des menschelyken lichaams, Amsterdam: By de weduwe van Joannes van Someren, de erfgenaamen van Joannes van Dyk, Hendrik en de weduwe van Dirk Boom, 1690. (More? NLM - Historical Anatomies)

18th Century

Caspar Friedrich Wolff (1733-1794) Theoria Generationis 1774

1705 "Paul Portal (1630-1703), The Compleat Practice of Men and Women Midwives (1705). A French obstetrician, originally published this important treatise in Paris in 1696. It includes his demonstration of turning a fetus during childbirth using one foot and contains his teaching that face presentation runs a normal course during the labor process." (More? Historical Medical Digital Library)

1754 William Smellie: A sett of anatomical tables, with explanations, and an abridgment, of the practice of midwifery (1754). He also helped develop the delivery forceps which by the late eighteenth century were a well-known standard obstetrical instrument. (More? NLM - Historical Anatomies)

1774 William Hunter (1718-1783) Anatomia uteri humani gravidi tabulis illustrata = The anatomy of the human gravid uterus exhibited in figures (1774). Caspar Friedrich Wolff (1733-1794) Theoria Generationis new theory of epigenesis, the gradual building up of embryonic structures, countered the existing theory of preformation.

1770 - 1775 A series of models commissioned by Giuseppe Galletti (? - 1819) currently held in the Institute and Museum of the History of Science (Italy) Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza (IMSS). Giuseppe Galletti and others used terracotta and wax models that he had commissioned in Florence between 1770 and 1775 to train surgeons and midwives. Week 10 Fetus Model | Week 16 Fetus Model | Week 24 Fetus Model | Stage 1 Terracotta Model 1 | Stage 1 Terracotta Model 2 | Stage 1 Wax Model | Breech Birth 1 | Breech Birth 2 | Breech Birth 3 | Breech Birth Wax Model | Placenta Previa | Category:Galletti1770

Institute and Museum of the History of Science "Specimens of obstetric models: the wax models are life-sized; the terracotta versions are reduced to a 1:3 scale. Together with the anatomical waxes in the Specola Museum in Florence, these models are among the most significant examples of the use of artistic techniques for teaching medicine and obstetrics to midwives and surgery students in Florentine hospitals at the end of the eighteenth century."

19th Century

1824 - Rolando cut chemically hardened (fixed) pieces of brain tissues into thin sections for microscopical examination.

1851 - Prize Essay on the Corpus Luteum

1859 Evolution Darwin

1867 Braune, Wilhelm (1831-1892): Topographisch-anatomischer Atlas : nach Durchschnitten an gefrornen Cadavern, Leipzig: Verlag von Veit & Comp., 1867-1872. (Topographic-anatomical Atlas)

1879 The Morphology of the Vertebrate Olfactory Organ.

1880 - image excerpts from a historic study of German embryologist Wilhelm His (1831-1904) Anatomie menschlicher Embryonen (1880).

Leydig cells named after german zoologist Franz von Leydig (1821 - 1908).

1883 - Michael Foster textbook on chicken development The Elements of Embryology - Volume 1 The History of the Chick: Egg structure and incubation beginning | Summary whole incubation | First day | Second day - first half | Second day - second half | Third day | Fourth day | Fifth day | Sixth day to incubation end

1887 - W. H. Caldwell The Embryology of Monotremata and Marsupialia Part I.

1889 - Camille Golgi discovered a method of silver staining hardened brain tissues.

Charles Minot Uterus And Embryo (1889) - I. Rabbit II. Man


1892 - Franklin Mall Paper - A Human Embryo Twenty-Six Days Old

1892 - Oscar Hertwig Text-Book of the Embryology of Man and Mammals

Early 20th Century

1906 - Earl J. Brown textbook on The Embryology Anatomy and Histology of the Eye.

1906 - Albert Gray article Observations on the Labyrinth of Certain Animals

1907 - Peter Thompson article Description of a Human Embryo of Twenty-three Paired Somites[3]

1908 - Alexander Low article Description of a Human Embryo of 13-14 Mesodermic Somites[4]

1914 - image excerpts from a historic study of The Anatomy of a 17.8 mm Human Embryo by Thyng, FW 1914.

1914 - Observations upon Young Human Embryos Wilson JT. J Anat Physiol. 1914 Apr;48(Pt 3):315-51.[5]

1916 - The Typical Form of the Cochlea and its Variations Watt. H.J.

1917 - "On Growth and Form" D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson (1860-1948) publishes this book on the application of mathematics to growth in nature.

1918 - links to images from the historic textbook Anatomy of the Human Body by Henry Gray.

1918 - Streeter G.L. (1918). The histogenesis and growth of the otic capsule and its contained periotic tissue-spaces in the human embryo.

1935 - Hans Spemann Nobel Prize in Medicine.

1920 - Bradley M. Patten textbook on The Early Embryology of the Chick.

1921 - Bailey, F.R. and Miller, A.M. Text-Book of Embryology.

1928 - Aschheim, S., and Zondek, B. Introduce first hormone based test for pregnancy.

1937 - West CM. A human embryo of twenty-five somites. (1937) J. Anat., 71(2): 169-200.1. PMID 17104635 A Human Embryo of Twenty-five Somites[6]

1941 - Dible, JH and West CM A Human Ovum at the Previllous Stage[7]

1949 - Morton WRM. Two early human embryos. (1949) J. Anat., 83: 308-314. Two early human embryos.

1951 - Patten BM. Embryology of the Pig. (1951) The Blakiston Company, Toronto.


Development in the early 20th century can also be seen in some Historic Movies 1920-1960.


Late 20th Century

Much of the modern history of Medicine/Embryology is documented in the Nobel Prizes for Medicine. There are either text extracts included or links to external texts or references in these notes. Some key women in development Virginia Apgar and Nicole Le Douarin.

1951 - Dr Viktor Hamburger and H L Hamilton publish "A series of normal stages in the development of the chick embryo."

1953 - Apgar test - historic neonatal test designed by Dr Virginia Apgar.

1965 - Neural Crest Research Nicole Le Douarin.

1978 - First IVF baby born (The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010 Awarded to Robert G. Edwards "for the development of in vitro fertilization")

1996 - "Dolly the sheep" First adult somatic cell cloning using the process of nuclear transfer.

Nobel Prizes

Much of the modern history of Medicine/Embryology is documented in the Nobel Prizes for Medicine. Remember that these award dates reflect findings that have proven to be scientific key breakthroughs from earlier dates.

21st Century

2000 - Human Genome Complete

2001 talk given by Robert Winston "Engineering Reproduction: Will We Still Be Human At The End of the 21st Century".

Nobel Prizes

Much of the modern history of Medicine/Embryology is documented in the Nobel Prizes for Medicine. Remember that these award dates reflect findings that have proven to be scientific key breakthroughs from earlier dates.



Also see other History of Medicine Resources, particularly Dr. Ian Carr's brief paper on The History of Childbirth, and Neonatology on the Web has a long list of historic Classic Papers in Neonatal Medicine.

History - Models

Galletti Models

(late 18th century)

Galletti1770 week 16.jpg

Ziegler Models

(19th to early 20th century)

Ziegler Freiburg workshop.jpg Ziegler model 06.jpg

Ziegler Freiburg workshop (c 1912). Ziegler Models | Embryology Models

Ziegler Models (1860's - )
Embryos Brain Development Heart Development

Carnegie Models

Osborne O. Heard (1891–1983) produced over 700 wax-based embryo reconstructions models for the Carnegie Institute.

Models were produced by the lost-wax casting process and were more detailed than the earlier Ziegler (1880's) embryo models.

Links: Carnegie Collection
Osborne Heard.jpg

Blechschmidt Models

Blechschmidt Models

Erich Blechschmidt (1904–92) independently developed new methods of embryo reconstruction, 200,000 serial sections of embryos and 64 models. (University of Goettingen, Germany)


Links: Blechschmidt Collection
Blechschmidt model icon.jpg

History - People

Embryologists: William Hunter | Wilhelm Roux | Caspar Wolff | Wilhelm His | Oscar Hertwig | Julius Kollmann | Hans Spemann | Francis Balfour | Charles Minot | Ambrosius Hubrecht | Charles Bardeen | Franz Keibel | Franklin Mall | Florence Sabin | George Streeter | George Corner | James Hill | Jan Florian | Thomas Bryce | Thomas Morgan | Ernest Frazer | Francisco Orts-Llorca | José Doménech Mateu | Frederic Lewis | Arthur Meyer | Robert Meyer | Erich Blechschmidt | Klaus Hinrichsen | Hideo Nishimura | Arthur Hertig | John Rock | Viktor Hamburger | Mary Lyon | Nicole Le Douarin | Robert Winston | Fabiola Müller | Ronan O'Rahilly | Robert Edwards | John Gurdon | Shinya Yamanaka | Embryology History | Category:People
Related Histology Researchers  
Santiago Ramón y Cajal | Camillo Golgi


History - Embryologists

Embryology Textbooks

Most Textbooks include Embryology Historic issues in the preface, opening chapter or within each chapter as a special section or highlighted text box. Therefore no specific chapter or page reference is shown for the texts below.

  • Human Embryology (2nd ed.) Larson
  • The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (6th ed.) Moore and Persaud
  • Before we Are Born (5th ed.) Moore and Persaud
  • Essentials of Human Embryology Larson
  • Fitzgerald
Links: Embryology Textbooks

Nobel awards in Medicine

  • The Nobel Prize Homepage has a searchable database and an annual table of awards.
  • The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2002 - discoveries concerning 'genetic regulation of organ development and programmed cell death' Summary: "The human body consists of hundreds of cell types, all originating from the fertilized egg. During the embryonic and foetal periods, the number of cells increase dramatically. The cells mature and become specialized to form the various tissues and organs of the body. Large numbers of cells are formed also in the adult body. In parallel with this generation of new cells, cell death is a normal process, both in the foetus and adult, to maintain the appropriate number of cells in the tissues. This delicate, controlled elimination of cells is called programmed cell death."
  • The discovery of Hox genes and other genes related to body pattern formation. The fly Antennapedia mutant during development the embryo incorrectly positions two legs (pedia) where antenna should have been positioned. The discovery of this mutant in opened up the field of developmental genes and this field has recently (1995) been rewarded with a Nobel prize in Medicine. See also Fly Development
  • Award Details: "for their discoveries concerning the genetic control of early embryonic development"
    • LEWIS, EDWARD B., U.S.A., California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A., 1918
    • NUSSLEIN-VOLHARD, CHRISTIANE, Germany, Max-Planck-Institut f√ºr Entwicklungsbiologie, Tubingen, Germany, 1942
    • WIESCHAUS, ERIC F., U.S.A., Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, U.S.A., * 1947

References

  1. Pritchard, U. The Cochlea of the Ornithorhynchus platypus compared with that of ordinary Mammals and of Birds Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (1854-1905). (January 1, 1880) 31:149–153.
  2. <pubmed>17232695</pubmed>| PMC1287457
  3. Thompson P. (1907). Description of a Human Embryo of Twenty-Three Paired Somites. J Anat Physiol , 41, 159-71. PMID: 17232726
  4. Low A. (1908). Description of a Human Embryo of 13-14 Mesodermic Somites. J Anat Physiol , 42, 237-51. PMID: 17232769
  5. Wilson JT. (1914). Observations upon Young Human Embryos. J Anat Physiol , 48, 315-51. PMID: 17233002
  6. <pubmed>17104635</pubmed>| PMC1252340
  7. <pubmed>17104860</pubmed>

Articles

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August 2010 "Embryology history" All (5271) Review (756) Free Full Text (799)

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History:Embryology History

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, March 19) Embryology Embryology History. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Embryology_History

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