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Abby Howe Turner facts for kids

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Abby Howe Turner
Turner at work, in an image from the Smithsonian Institution
Born 1875 (1875)
Died 1957 (aged 81–82)
Citizenship United States
Alma mater Radcliffe College
Known for Exploring colloid osmotic pressure and gravity's effect on the circulatory system
Scientific career
Fields Physiology and Zoology
Institutions Mount Holyoke College

Abby Howe Turner (1875-1957) was an important American scientist. She was a professor of physiology and zoology. Physiology is the study of how living things work. Zoology is the study of animals.

Abby Howe Turner started the physiology department at Mount Holyoke College. She was known for her research on how our bodies react to gravity. She also studied something called colloid osmotic pressure. This is about how fluids move in our bodies.

Early Life and Education

Abby Howe Turner was born in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1875. Her parents were Emeline Mehitabel Cogswell and George Turner.

She went to Mount Holyoke College and earned her first degree in 1896. After that, she continued her studies. She attended the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago. She also studied at the Harvard Medical School. Later, she earned her Ph.D. degree from Radcliffe College in 1926.

A Career in Science

Abby Howe Turner spent most of her career at Mount Holyoke College. She started working there in 1896. She taught students and also did her own research in a lab. She worked there until she retired in 1940.

Studying the Human Body

Turner was very interested in how the human body works. She focused on two main areas:

  • Colloid Osmotic Pressure: This is about how fluids move between blood and body tissues. It helps keep the right balance of water in our bodies.
  • Circulatory System and Gravity: She studied how our circulatory system (our blood flow) changes when we are in different positions. For example, she looked at how blood flows when someone stands up or lies down.

Research with Students

Abby Howe Turner often worked with her students on research projects. In one study, she worked with students who were studying physiology and physical education. They explored how different body postures affected blood flow in women. This helped them understand more about how our bodies adapt to gravity.

Legacy and Archives

Abby Howe Turner was a close friend of Esther Loring Richards. Richards was a psychiatrist and author. They wrote many letters to each other over the years. These letters are now kept at Mount Holyoke College. They help us learn more about Turner's life and work.

Abby Howe Turner passed away in 1957. Her work helped us better understand the human body.Women physiologistsWomen zoologists

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