Theodor Ludwig Wilhelm von Bischoff (28 October 1807 in Hannover – 5 December 1882 in Munich) was a German physician and biologist.

Biography

He lectured on pathological anatomy at Heidelberg (1835-1843) and held professorships in anatomy and physiology at Giessen (1843-1855) and Munich, where he was appointed to the chair of anatomy and physiology in 1854.^[1] In 1843, Theodor von Bischoff was elected as member of the German Academy of Sciences.^[2]

His most important contributions were made in embryology with a series of four exhaustive memoirs on the development of the mammalian ovum; published in 1842 (rabbit), 1845 (dog), 1852 (guinea pig), and 1854 (roe deer).^[3] His studies concerning animal metabolism by measuring urea were less successful, as was his research on the anatomy of skull and brain.

He was elected a foreign member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1878.^[4]

Selected works

• Beiträge zur Lehre von den Eyhüllen des menschlichen Fötus, 1834 – Contributions to the study of the human fetus.
• Entwickelungsgeschichte der Säugethiere und des Menschen, 1842 – Developmental history of mammals and man.
• Entwicklungsgeschichte des kaninchen-eies, 1842 – Developmental history of the rabbit ovum.
• Entwicklungsgeschichte des hunde-eies, 1845 – Developmental history of the dog ovum.
• Entwicklungsgeschichte des meerschweinchens, 1852 – Developmental history of the guinea pig.
• Entwicklungsgeschichte des Rehes, 1854 – Developmental history of the roe deer.
• Die Grosshirnwindungen des Menschen : mit Berücksichtigung ihrer Entwicklung bei dem Fötus und ihrer Anordnung bei den Affen, 1868 – The cerebral convolutions of man.
• Das Studium und die Ausübung der Medicin durch Frauen, 1872 – The study and practice of medicine by women.^[5]