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Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2022; 147(24/25): 1590-1595
DOI: 10.1055/a-1884-7518
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Langhans’sche oder Langerhans’sche Zellen? – Das Problem des Eponyms

Langhans’ or Langerhans’ cells? – The problem of the eponym
Ulrich Koehler
,
Regina Conradt
,
Wulf Hildebrandt
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In der Literatur kommt es häufiger zur Verwechslung von Theodor Langhans (1839–1915) und Paul Langerhans (1847–1888). Theodor Langhans hat die „Riesenzellen“ mit wandständigen Kernen in den Tuberkeln entdeckt und beschrieben. Bei dem Eponym „Langerhans’sche Zellen“ handelt es sich dagegen um dendritische Zellen in der Stachelzellschicht der Epidermis, die von Paul Langerhans beschrieben wurden. Beiden Wissenschaftlern ist dieser Beitrag gewidmet.

Abstract

There is frequent confusion between Theodor Langhans (1839–1915) and Paul Langerhans (1847–1888) in the literature. Theodor Langhans was a German pathologist who discovered and described the “giant cells” with nuclei close to the outer membrane of the tubercles. Today, these cells are called “Langhans’ giant cells”. The eponym “Langerhans’ cells” refers to dendritic cells in the stratum spinosum of the epidermis. Paul Langerhans described these cells for a competition organised by the Berlin Medical Faculty when he was still a student. Most doctors know Paul Langerhans through the first description of the “Langerhans’ islet cells” of the pancreas. Langerhans died of tuberculosis at the age of 40 after a long exile on the island of Madeira.

Schlüsselwörter

Eponym - Theodor Langhans - Riesenzellen - Paul Langerhans - dendritische Zellen - Inselzellen

Key words

eponym - Theodor Langhans - giant cells - Paul Langerhans - dendritic cells - pancreatic islet cells


Publication History

Article published online:
05 December 2022

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