Friday, October 31, 2014

Died This Day: Johann Friedrich Meckel

Shark Family Tree © Ray Troll 

Meckel (Oct 17, 1781 - Oct 31, 1833) was a German anatomist who first described the embryonic cartilage (now called Meckel's cartilage) that ossifies to form part of the lower jaw in fishes, amphibians, and birds. He also described a pouch (Meckel's diverticulum) of the small intestine.