The Obersteiner–Redlich line identifies the transition zone where the central nervous system meets the peripheral nervous system, marking a critical junction for Schwann cells and oligodendroglia. First described by the Austrian physician Heinrich Obersteiner and his colleague Emil Redlich, this structural boundary remains a fundamental anatomical reference point in modern neurology.
Academic Career at the University of Vienna
Heinrich Obersteiner completed his doctorate at the University of Vienna in 1870. During his early training, he conducted research within the laboratory of Ernst Wilhelm von Brücke. He secured his habilitation in 1873, focusing on the anatomy and pathology of the nervous system. Obersteiner advanced through the academic ranks at the University of Vienna, achieving the position of associate professor in 1880 and eventually obtaining the title of full professor in 1898.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Clinical and Institutional Contributions
Beyond his teaching duties, Obersteiner directed a private mental institution located in Oberdöbling, on the periphery of Vienna. In 1882, he founded a neurological institute in Vienna that gained international recognition. His work bridged the gap between naturalism, psychiatry, and neurology, establishing frameworks for clinical observation that influenced subsequent medical practice in Austria and abroad.
Published Research and Scientific Literature
Obersteiner authored several significant texts on nervous system physiology and pathology. His 1888 publication, Anleitung beim Studium des baues der nervösen Centralorgane im gesunden und kranken Zustande, reached a fifth edition by 1912 and received translations in English, French, Italian, and Russian. Alexander Hill translated the English version in 1890. His other works include a 1893 study on hypnotism titled Die Lehre vom Hypnotismus, a collaborative volume on spinal cord diseases co-authored with Emil Redlich, and a 1924 text on the macroscopic examination of the central nervous system.
Fast facts
- Born: 1847, Vienna, Austria
- Died: 1922, Vienna, Austria
- Education: University of Vienna
- Professional fields: Naturalist, psychiatrist, neurologist, university teacher
- Member: German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
- Burial site: Döbling Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What is the Obersteiner–Redlich line?
It is an anatomical zone where the central nervous system meets the peripheral nervous system, specifically where Schwann cells encounter oligodendroglia cells.
Where did Heinrich Obersteiner conduct his primary research?
He worked primarily at the University of Vienna and at a private mental institution he directed in Oberdöbling.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Vienna
.jpg)