Meckelscher

Meckelscher is a German adjective meaning “of or relating to Meckel,” used in medical and anatomical terminology to form eponymous terms honoring the German anatomist Johann Friedrich Meckel. The form appears across several terms in embryology and anatomy, indicating a relationship to structures described by Meckel or named in his honor.

One well-known use is Meckelscher Knorpel, or Meckel’s cartilage. This is the cartilaginous framework derived from the first pharyngeal arch in the developing embryo. In many species it contributes to the formation of the malleus and incus (the hammer and anvil) of the middle ear. In humans, most of this cartilage typically regresses during development, though small remnants can persist.

Another principal use is Meckelscher Divertikel, or Meckel’s diverticulum. This is a true diverticulum of the ileum that contains all layers of the intestinal wall. It arises from the incomplete obliteration of the vitelline (omphalomesenteric) duct during embryogenesis. Meckel’s diverticulum occurs in about 2 percent of people and is often asymptomatic, but it can lead to complications such as bleeding, inflammation, or obstruction in some cases.

The term Meckelscher thus functions as a linguistic marker in German anatomy, linking various structures to the historical work of Meckel and reflecting the common practice of naming anatomical elements after discoverers or describers.