Ligamentum nuchae

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A Moment in History

Georg Eduard Von Rindfleisch
(1836 – 1908)

German pathologist and histologist of Bavarian nobility ancestry. Rindfleisch studied medicine in Würzburg, Berlin, and Heidelberg, earning his MD in 1859 with the thesis “De Vasorum Genesi” (on the generation of vessels) under the tutelage of Rudolf Virchow (1821 - 1902). He then continued as a assistant to Virchow in a newly founded institute in Berlin. He then moved to Breslau in 1861 as an assistant to Rudolf Heidenhain (1834–1897), becoming a professor of pathological anatomy. In 1865 he became full professor in Bonn and in 1874 in Würzburg, where a new pathological institute was built according to his design (completed in 1878), where he worked until his retirement in 1906.

He was the first to describe the inflammatory background of multiple sclerosis in 1863, when he noted that demyelinated lesions have in their center small vessels that are surrounded by a leukocyte inflammatory infiltrate.

After extensive investigations, he suspected an infectious origin of tuberculosis - even before Robert Koch's detection of the tuberculosis bacillus in 1892. Rindfleisch 's special achievement is the description of the morphologically conspicuous macrophages in typhoid inflammation. His distinction between myocardial infarction and myocarditis in 1890 is also of lasting importance.

Associated eponyms

"Rindfleisch's folds": Usually a single semilunar fold of the serous surface of the pericardium around the origin of the aorta. Also known as the plica semilunaris aortæ.

"Rindfleisch's cells": Historical (and obsolete) name for eosinophilic leukocytes.

Personal note: G. Rindfleisch’s book “Traité D' Histologie Pathologique” 2nd edition (1873) is now part of my library. This book was translated from German to French by Dr. Frédéric Gross (1844-1927) , Associate Professor of the Medicine Faculty in Nancy, France. The book is dedicated to Dr. Theodore Billroth (1829-1894), an important surgeon whose pioneering work on subtotal gastrectomies paved the way for today’s robotic bariatric surgery. Dr. Miranda.

Sources:
1. "Stedmans Medical Eponyms" Forbis, P.; Bartolucci, SL; 1998 Williams and Wilkins
2. "Rindfleisch, Georg Eduard von (bayerischer Adel?)" Deutsche Biographie
3. "The pathology of multiple sclerosis and its evolution" Lassmann H. (1999) Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 354 (1390): 1635–40.
4. “Traité D' Histologie Pathologique” G.E.
Rindfleisch 2nd Ed (1873) Ballieres et Fils. Paris, Translated by F Gross

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Details: Written by: Efrain A. Miranda, Ph.D.; Published: January 14, 2014; Hits: 28147

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The [ligamentum nuchae] is the Latin term to describe the nuchal ligament. It arises from the word [nucha] meaning the “back” or “nape” of the neck.

The ligamentum nuchae is a midline or median structure found in the posterior aspect of the neck. It is a fibroelastic tendon-like bilaminar structure with a triangular shape. Because of its location the ligamentum nuchae froms a septum that divides the posterior aspect of the neck in the midline providing an attachment for several muscles. These muscles are the trapezius, splenius capitis, rhomboid minor and serratus posterior superior.

The ligamentum nuchae attaches superiorly to the inion (external occipital protuberance) and the midline of the occipital bone. Inferiorly it attaches to the spinous process of C7 (vertebra prominens). Anteriorly it attaches to the posterior tubercle of C1 and all the cervical vertebrae in the midline. Interestingly, anatomical studies have shown the ligamentum nuchae to have small attachments to the spinal dural (thecal) sac superior and inferior to C1

There is a discussion as to the relationship of the ligamentum nuchae and the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments. Some say that the ligamentum nuchae is a discrete structure distinct from the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments, while others contest that the ligamentum nuchae is a continuation of the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments.

Thanks to Jackie Miranda-Klein for suggesting this article.

Ligamentum nuchae

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