Peter Matthews (physiologist) facts for kids
Peter Bryan Conrad Matthews (born December 23, 1928 – died March 2, 2020) was a smart British scientist who studied how our bodies move. He was a physiologist, which means he learned about how living things work. Professor Matthews was especially known for his work on tiny parts of our muscles called muscle spindles. These help our brains know where our body parts are without us even looking! He also studied something called proprioception, which is our body's sense of its own position and movement. He taught at the University of Oxford and was chosen to be a member of the important Royal Society in 1973 because of his amazing discoveries.
About Peter Matthews
Peter Matthews was born in Cambridge, England. His father, Sir Bryan Harold Cabot Matthews, was also a physiologist. Peter went to school at King's College School, Cambridge and then Marlborough College. Later, he studied Natural Sciences at King's College, Cambridge. He then moved to Oxford to study medicine.
He married Margaret Blears, who was also a physiologist. They had two children, and their son, Hugh Matthews, also became a scientist who studies how our senses work.
In 1956, Peter Matthews started working at the University of Oxford. He became a professor there, teaching about how our senses and movements are connected. He became very well-known for his important research on muscle spindles, which are special sensors in our muscles.
