François Magendie

French physiologist. Born in Bordeaux. Became a medical student at the Saint-Louis Hospital in 1803, and studied anatomy and physiology at medical school. He initially established himself as an anatomist, but later switched to physiology. In 1809, he reported the results of animal tests on the toxic effects of poisons from Java, which are said to be the first pharmacological experiments. In 1830, he became a professor of physiology at the Collège de France, and also served as a physician at the Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in Paris. He studied the functions of the spinal nerves, establishing the Bell-Magendie law, which states that the anterior root of the spinal cord is responsible for movement and the posterior root for sensation. He also studied the mechanisms of blood flow, swallowing, and vomiting. He was a pioneer in experimental physiology in France, and published the first issue of the Journal of Experimental Physiology in 1821.

[Otori Ranzaburo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

フランスの生理学者。ボルドー生まれ。1803年聖ルイ病院の医学生となり、医学校で解剖学と生理学を学び、初め解剖学者として身をたてたが、生理学に転じた。1809年ジャワ産の毒物に関する毒物効果の動物試験の結果を報告、これは最初の薬物学的実験といわれる。1830年コレージュ・ド・フランスの生理学教授となり、パリのオテル・ディユ病院の医師を兼務。脊髄(せきずい)神経の機能を研究し、脊髄前根は運動を、後根は知覚をつかさどるという「ベル‐マジャンディの法則」を確立、また血流、嚥下(えんげ)、嘔吐(おうと)の機構を研究した。1821年の『実験生理学雑誌』創刊など、フランスにおける実験生理学の先駆的業績をあげた。

［大鳥蘭三郎］

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