Jean Cruveilhier and his contributions to understanding childhood hydrocephalus, Chiari II malformation, and spina bifida

Excerpt

Jean Cruveilhier (Fig. 1) was a French anatomist and pathologist, born in Limoges, France, in 1791, [1‐3] the son of a military surgeon. He studied medicine at the University of Paris, receiving his degree in 1816, under the famous anatomist Guillaume Dupuytren [2‐4]. He is most well-known for his two books, a six-volume Anatomie pathologique du corps humain (1828–1842) and the Traitè d’anatomie pathologique gènèrale (1849–1864) [3, 4]. Both works are known for their illustrations and the concepts described such as phlebitis and the role of inflammation in the general disease process [2]. Cruveilhier “was essentially a researcher who owed his reputation more to his books than his teaching” [4]. He was notorious for adding extensive clinical information from each case in his books, along with the detailed illustrations, including patient histories, physical examination findings, and autopsy reports [2].

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