Joseph Erlanger American physiologist Date of Birth: 05.01.1874 Country: USA

1. Biography of Joseph Erlanger
2. Education and Early Career
3. Contributions and Achievements
4. Notable Works
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Joseph Erlanger

Joseph Erlanger (1874-1965) was an American physiologist known for his contributions to the study of neurophysiology and cardiac excitability. He was born on January 5, 1874, in San Francisco, California. Erlanger received his education at the University of California and Johns Hopkins University.

Education and Early Career

After completing his education, Erlanger worked as a resident and assistant at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. From 1904 to 1906, he served as a professor of physiology at the Johns Hopkins Medical School. He then became a professor and chair of the Department of Physiology at the University of Wisconsin. From 1910 until his retirement in 1946, Erlanger held the position of head of the Department of Physiology at Washington University in St. Louis.

Contributions and Achievements

Erlanger's major contributions focused on the study of neurophysiology and the excitability of the heart. He conducted research on the electrical properties of nerve fibers in collaboration with G. Gasser. Together, they demonstrated that the speed of impulse conduction is directly proportional to the diameter of the nerve fiber.

For their groundbreaking studies on bioelectrical phenomena in nerve fibers, Erlanger and Gasser were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1944. Erlanger also served as the vice president of the American Medical Association and an advisor to the American Physiological Society. From 1926 to 1928, he served as the president of the American Physiological Society.

Notable Works

In addition to his research, Erlanger co-authored the book "Electrical Signs of Nervous Activity" with Gasser in 1937. This work focused on the electrical registration of nervous activity.

Later Years and Legacy

Joseph Erlanger passed away on December 5, 1965, in St. Louis, Missouri. His contributions to the field of neurophysiology continue to be highly regarded, and his work laid the foundation for further advancements in the understanding of nerve conduction and cardiac excitability.