Jan Purkyně facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan Evangelista Purkyně
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Jan Evangelista Purkyne in 1856
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| Born | December 17, 1787 Libochovice, Bohemia, Austrian Monarchy
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| Died | July 28, 1869 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Citizenship | Austrian |
| Alma mater | University of Prague |
| Known for | Purkinje cells |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Anatomy, physiology |
| Institutions | University of Breslau |
Jan Evangelista Purkyně (born December 17 or 18, 1787 – died July 28, 1869) was a famous Czech scientist. He studied the human body, focusing on anatomy (how the body is built) and physiology (how the body works). He was one of the most well-known scientists of his time. In 1839, he created the word 'protoplasm' for the jelly-like stuff found inside cells.
About Jan Evangelista Purkyně
Purkyně was born in Bohemia. This area was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire back then. Today, it is part of the Czech Republic.
In 1818, he finished his medical degree. Soon after, he became a professor who taught about how the body works. He wrote two books that helped start the study of experimental psychology. This field looks at how our minds work through experiments.
Purkyně also started the world's first Department of Physiology. This was at the University of Breslau in Prussia. Today, this city is called Wrocław and is in Poland. He also set up the world's first official lab for studying physiology.
His Discoveries
Purkyně is famous for finding special parts of the body. He discovered Purkinje cells, which are large nerve cells in the brain. He also found Purkinje fibres, which are important for how your heart beats.
He also came up with scientific words we still use today. These include plasma, which is part of your blood. He also named protoplasm, the living material inside cells.
In 1823, Purkyně wrote about fingerprints. He was the first to group them into nine main patterns. In 1833, he discovered sweat glands, which help your body cool down.
He was so famous that if someone from outside Europe wanted to send him a letter, they only needed to write "Purkyně, Europe" as the address!
Jan Evangelista Purkyně is buried in the Czech National Cemetery. This cemetery is in Vyšehrad, Prague, in the Czech Republic.
His Legacy
Many places and things are named after Jan Evangelista Purkyně. The Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, was named after him for 30 years (from 1960 to 1990). A military medical school in Hradec Králové also carried his name for a while.
Today, a university in Ústí nad Labem is named after him. It is called the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem.
Even in space, his name lives on! A crater on the Moon is called Purkyně. There is also an asteroid named 3701 Purkyně.
Images for kids
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Statue of Jan Evangelista Purkyně in Prague
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Personal sigil from 1837
See also
In Spanish: Jan Evangelista Purkyně para niños
