Augustus Volney Waller
Augustus Volney Waller (pronounced: aw-GUS-tus vol-NEY wah-LER) is a renowned British neurophysiologist known for his significant contributions to the field of neuroscience.
Etymology
The name "Augustus" is of Latin origin, meaning "majestic," "the increaser," or "venerated". "Volney" is of French origin, derived from the name of the French philosopher and historian, Constantin François de Chassebœuf, comte de Volney. "Waller" is an English occupational name for a person who constructs walls, particularly a mason or a bricklayer.
Biography
Augustus Volney Waller was born on July 21, 1816, in London, England. He is best known for his discovery of the process of Wallerian degeneration, a form of anterograde degeneration that occurs in axons, leading to the breakdown of nerve fibers. This discovery has had a profound impact on the understanding and treatment of neurological disorders.
Contributions to Neuroscience
Waller's most significant contribution to neuroscience is his discovery of Wallerian degeneration. This process occurs when a nerve fiber is cut or crushed and the part of the axon separated from the neuron's cell body degenerates. This discovery has been instrumental in the study of nerve injuries and their repair.
In addition to Wallerian degeneration, Waller also made significant contributions to the understanding of the reflex arc, a neural pathway that controls a reflex action. He was among the first to describe its operation in detail.
Related Terms
- Wallerian degeneration: A process of degeneration that occurs in nerve fibers after they have been cut or crushed.
- Reflex arc: A neural pathway that controls a reflex action.
- Neurophysiology: The study of the functioning of the nervous system.
- Neuroscience: The scientific study of the nervous system.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Augustus Volney Waller
- Wikipedia's article - Augustus Volney Waller
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski