The fasciculus gracilis, a specific bundle of axon fibers within the spinal cord, remains known in clinical neuroanatomy as the tract of Goll. This structural identification stems from the research conducted by Friedrich Goll, a Swiss physician who spent his professional life advancing the understanding of human anatomy and pharmacology through his work at the University of Zurich.
Academic and Medical Training
Born in Zofingen in 1829, Goll pursued his medical education at the University of Zurich, completing his doctorate in 1853. His dissertation, titled Über den Einfluss des Blutdruckes auf die Harnabsonderung, examined the relationship between blood pressure and urinary secretion. Following his initial degree, he traveled to Paris to study under the physiologist Claude Bernard. He returned to Switzerland and established himself as a general practitioner in Zurich starting in 1855.
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In 1862, Goll attained his habilitation in special pathology and pharmacology at the University of Zurich. His administrative and clinical leadership included serving as the director of the medical polyclinic from 1863 until 1869. Later in his career, he held the position of associate professor of pharmacology at the same institution from 1885 to 1901. His significant anatomical contribution, Beiträge zur feineren Anatomie des menschlichen Rückenmarks, was published in 1860.
Professional and Personal Activities
Outside of his laboratory and academic duties, Goll held a prominent role within the local medical community, serving as president of the Medical Society of the Canton of Zurich between 1885 and 1895. He maintained a personal interest in mountaineering and actively advocated for the development of spas and health resorts throughout the Graubünden region. He remained a resident of Switzerland until his death in 1903 at the age of 74.
Fast facts
- Born: 1829, Zofingen, Switzerland
- Died: 1903, Zurich
- Education: University of Zurich
- Primary field: Neuroanatomy
- Notable work: Tract of Goll
- Professional affiliation: University of Zurich
- Medical Society presidency: 1885-1895
Questions readers ask
What is the tract of Goll?
It is another name for the fasciculus gracilis, a bundle of axon fibers in the spinal cord identified by Friedrich Goll.
Where did Friedrich Goll conduct his research?
He conducted his research primarily at the University of Zurich in Switzerland.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Zurich
