Langerhans, paul wilhelm heinrich

(¤ 1847, † 1888) Pathologist, working in Freiburg, Funchal (Madeira). Born in 1847 in Berlin as son of the doctor and politician Paul Langerhans. Studied medicine first in Jena, from 1866 in Berlin. In his first publication in 1868, at the age of 21, he described the Langerhans cells ("epidermal star cells") in the epidermis, which were named after him; doctorate in 1869. In his dissertation, Langerhans described nine different cell types of the pancreas, including the Langerhans islets named after him (cell group in the excretory pancreatic tissue; glucagon, insulin and somatostatin production). 1870/71 Worked as a lazerett doctor during the Franco-German war. 1871 Acceptance of a prosthesis in Freiburg. Habilitation in Freiburg. 1874 Appointed full professor of pathological anatomy. 1874 Disease of pulmonary tuberculosis. For this reason permanent relocation to Funchal/Madeira. 1888 died in Madeira as a result of tuberculosis.