| Swiss anatomist, botanist and physiologist. Date of Birth: 16.10.1708 Country: Switzerland |
Albrecht von Haller was a Swiss anatomist, botanist, and physiologist. He was born on October 16, 1708, in Bern. He studied at the University of Tübingen and the University of Leiden, earning his medical degree in 1727. From 1727 to 1728, he furthered his medical studies in Paris and Cambridge.
From 1729 to 1736, Haller worked as a municipal physician and the curator of the city library in Bern. He then became a professor at the University of Göttingen from 1736 to 1753. Afterward, he returned to Bern and continued his research and work there.
Haller's first scientific work focused on the flora of the Alps, which he studied during his travels across the Swiss cantons. He also compiled an extensive bibliography on anatomy and botany, which remains significant to this day. He proposed a classification of plants based on their appearance and the structure of their fruits.
One of Haller's primary areas of research was human physiology. He studied the properties of muscle fibers, exploring their elasticity, ability to contract when stimulated by a nerve or the muscle itself, and their ability to return to their original state when the stimulation is removed. Haller made additions to William Harvey's understanding of the circulatory system, clarifying the interconnections between its different components. He was one of the first to describe the functioning of the human body as a whole. He also studied the anatomy of the human brain, describing how nerve fibers connect within it. His research extended to the heart's function and the characteristics of the pulse.
Haller's significant contribution to science was his eight-volume work on general human physiology, titled "Elementa Physiologiae Corporis Humani" (1757-1766). In this work, he synthesized facts and theories relevant to physiology. In 1743, Haller was elected a member of the Royal Society. He was also a member of the St. Petersburg Academy, the Paris Academy, and other scientific academies.
In addition to his scientific pursuits, Haller gained recognition as a poet and was the author of the poem "Alps" (1729). He was considered a representative of the early German Enlightenment. Haller passed away in Bern on December 12, 1777.