The 1891 publication of Die Physiologie der facettierten Augen von Krebsen und Insekten provided a comprehensive explanation of how compound eyes function in crustaceans and insects. This work established Sigmund Exner as a central figure in comparative physiology, linking intricate structural observations with broader theories of visual perception and animal movement during the late nineteenth century.
Academic Foundation and Career
Born in Vienna in 1846, Sigmund Exner pursued his education at the University of Vienna. His professional training included periods under Ernst Wilhelm von Brücke in Vienna and Hermann von Helmholtz in Heidelberg. After receiving his degree in 1870, he maintained a long-term affiliation with the University of Vienna, serving as an assistant at the physiological institute before succeeding von Brücke as professor of physiology and director of the institute in 1891.
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Exner’s research focused on the intersection of physiology and perception psychology. He investigated the localization of behavioral functions within the brain, specifically mapping the visual cortex. His experimental work covered diverse topics including retinal regeneration, hue adaptation, color contrast, and apparent motion. Beyond the visual system, he explored the biomechanics of movement, analyzing the hovering behavior of birds of prey and the physiology of flight in visual arts. In 1899, he co-founded the Phonogrammarchiv in Vienna to preserve acoustic phenomena for scientific study.
Eponymous Medical Terms
Several anatomical and clinical structures bear his name, reflecting his influence on morphological research. Call-Exner bodies, identified alongside American physician Emma Louise Call, are fluid-filled spaces associated with granulosa cell tumors. Other eponymous designations include Exner's area, located anterior to the primary motor control area; Exner's nerve, connected to the cricothyroid membrane; and Exner's plexus, which consists of tangential fibers in the cerebral cortex.
Fast facts
- Born: 5 April 1846, Vienna
- Died: 5 February 1926, Vienna
- Education: University of Vienna
- Awards: Lieben Prize (1877)
- Memberships: German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities
- Burial: Vienna Central Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What did Sigmund Exner study at the University of Vienna?
He studied physiology, eventually becoming the director of the physiological institute and a professor.
What are Call-Exner bodies?
They are small, eosinophilic fluid-filled spaces within the basement membrane associated with granulosa cell tumors.
Achievements
- Lieben Prize — 1877
- Held posts at University of Vienna
