Abstract

SA.13.02

Heinrich Müller (1820-1864), the anatomist of the human eye and retina

Peter Wiedemann
Universitäts-Augenklinik Leipzig

Objective: To make a short presentation of the CV of Heinrich Müller and to demonstrate the tremendous influence he had on the knowledge on the anatomy and physiology of the eye.
Methods: Workup of the publications and discoveries of Heinrich Müller and his contemporaries and followers and actual results from the Müller cell research group in Leipzig.
Results: Müller studied medicine in Munich and Heidelberg, 1852 he became associate and 1858 full professor of topographic and functional anatomy. His major field of interest was the anatomy and physiology of the eye. He founded an ophthamological school and became famous for his "Examinations of the retina" (1856).
The presentation demonstrates the importance of Müller cells for normal retinal function, gives an overview of the pathological relevance of Müller cells, and underlines the importance of Müller cells for future therapeutic approaches
Specifically we address

• The morphology of retinal Müller cells and its functional correlation under physiologic conditions (Reichenbach et al);
• The influence of Müller cells on retinal homeostasis, e.g. macular edema (Bringmann et al);
• The disturbance of Müller cells in liver diseases;
• The significance of Müller cells for the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Conclusions: Heinrich Müllers unique skills, his diligence, and persistence allowed him to describe many features of the anatomy of the human retina in a still valid way.

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