Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

The diverticulum of Meckel

Johann Friedrich Meckel. Klunker, early 19th century. Via Wikimedia.

Johann Friedrich Meckel the Younger, a German anatomist, identified and described Meckel’s diverticulum in 1809, building on earlier observations by Fabricius Hildanus in the sixteenth century. The diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract, found in about 2% of the population. It is a pouch or bulge in the small intestine caused by the incomplete obliteration of an embryonic structure duct that normally disappears before birth.

When the duct does not close properly, the persisting remnant forms a diverticulum. Although this is usually asymptomatic, it may occasionally become infected, resulting in symptoms like those of appendicitis, or becoming obstructed, especially in children, and manifested as abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. Bleeding may occur when the diverticulum contains ectopic gastric cells that secrete acid, and it may become strangulated, perforated, gangrenous, or cause a volvulus or intussusception.

Meckel was born in Halle 1781, hailing from a family of medical professionals. His grandfather and father were both anatomists, and young Meckel followed in the same profession, studying medicine at the University of Halle, where he later became a professor of anatomy. His main interest was the study of congenital malformations and anomalies. Meckel’s work extended beyond the diverticulum. He also made contributions to the understanding of the nervous system, skeletal development, and cardiovascular anomalies, but he is remembered mainly for describing the structure that bears his name.


GEORGE DUNEA, MD, Editor-in-Chief

Fall 2024

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