Regnier de Graaf

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Reinier de Graaf
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"Reinier de Graaf" redirects here. For the architect, see Reinier de Graaf (architect).
Regnier de Graaf
Portrait photo
Born30 July 1641
Schoonhoven, Dutch Republic
Died17 August 1673 (aged 32)
Delft, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Known forreproductive biology
syringe
ovarian follicle
Scientific career
Fieldsanatomist

Regnier de Graaf (English spelling), original Dutch spelling Reinier de Graaf, or Latinized Reijnerus de Graeff (30 July 1641 – 17 August 1673), was a Dutch

physiologist and anatomist who made key discoveries in reproductive biology. He specialized in iatrochemistry and iatrogenesis,[1] and was the first to develop a syringe to inject dye into human reproductive organs so that he could understand their structure and function.[2]

Biography

Anatomical theater in Delft. Drawing by J.v.d.Star 1776 - Delft
Old Church in Delft by Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet

De Graaf was born in

genitalia, which led to a publication in 1668. For his research in the anatomical theatre on the ovarian follicle
he used female rabbits. (The dissection of corpses was only done in winter, and cadavers were scarce; most were sent to Leiden and available when someone was condemned to death.)

In May 1672 he married Maria van Dijk. As a correspondent of the

Old Church, Delft on a prominent spot, at the choir.[6][7]

It has been speculated that he may have committed suicide, but it is more likely it was malaria, typhoid fever or dysentery as in other Dutch cities;[8][5] the disease persisted throughout the year, peaking in July and August.

Legacy

The Ovary by Reinier de Graaf
Ectopic pregnancy by Reinier de Graaf, copied, as he acknowledged, from an earlier French publication by Vassal

De Graaf's position in the history of reproduction is unique, summarising the work of anatomists before his time, but unable to benefit from the advances about to be made by microscopy, although he reported its use by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1673. His personal contributions include the description of testicular tubules, the

corpora lutea. De Graaf may have been the first to understand the reproductive function of the fallopian tube, described the hydrosalpinx, linking its development to female infertility.[9][10] De Graaf also invented a practical syringe
, described in his third treatise.

Graafian follicles

His

Fallopius, had noticed the follicles previously (but failed to recognize its reproductive significance). The term Graafian follicle followed the introduction of the term ova Graafiana by Albrecht von Haller who like De Graaf still assumed that the follicle was the oocyte itself, although De Graaf realized the ovum was much smaller. The discovery of the human egg was eventually made by Karl Ernst von Baer in 1827. De Graaf's contemporary Jan Swammerdam confronted him after his publication of DeMulierum Organis Generatione Inservientibu and accused him of taking credit of discoveries he and fr:Johannes van Horne had made earlier regarding the importance of the ovary and its eggs. De Graaf issued a rebuttal but was affected by the accusation of plagiarism.[11]

Female ejaculation

De Graaf described

gall bladder and the pancreas
.

Weaknesses

Despite his contributions, De Graaf made a number of errors in addition to believing that the ovum was the follicle. He never actually consulted the ancient texts but merely repeated the accounts of others compounding their inaccuracies. Because he observed rabbits rather than humans, he assumed fertilization took place in the ovary. He believed that the

spermatozoa.[10]
He was not yet aware of the presence of spermatozoa as such; these were discovered just after his death by the Amsterdam student Johannes Ham, using the microscope of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. Based upon his rabbit experiments and the description of ectopic pregnancy in a lady that had died in her 12th pregnancy in Paris, he assumed that the complete entity was present in the ovary, brought to life by the influence of the male ejaculatory fluid, and then transported to the uterus.

Publications

References

  1. ^ REINIER DE GRAAF EN ZIJN PLAATS IN HET FYSIOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK VAN DE ZEVENTIENDE EEUW by M.J. van Lieburg
  2. ^ "Reinier de Graaf | Lens on Leeuwenhoek".
  3. ^ "Van der Aa".
  4. ^ a b https://www.ntvg.nl/system/files/publications/1974107890001a.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ a b Lindenboom G.A. (1974), p. 794
  6. ^ Burial record, p. 81
  7. ^ "Regnier de Graaf (1641-1673) | the Embryo Project Encyclopedia".
  8. ^ Levenstekens: Gekaapte brieven uit het Rampjaar 1672 by Judith Brouwer, p. 279
  9. PMID 9080233
    .
  10. ^
    PMID 4567037
    .
  11. PMID 10923067
    .
  12. ^ Jon E. Roeckelein (2006). Elsevier's Dictionary of Psychological Theories.
    ISBN 978-0-444-51750-0
    . Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  13. doi:10.1080/00224498109551094
    .

Other sources

External links
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