Marie Philibert Constant Sappey

Constant Sappey (1810-1896)

Marie Philibert Constant Sappey (1810 – March 15, 1896) was a French anatomist born in Cernon, near the city of Bourg-en-Bresse.

He studied medicine at the University of Paris, earning his degree in 1843. Later he became a professor of anatomy in Paris, and in 1862 was elected to the Academy of Medicine, becoming its president in 1887. In 1868 he succeeded Jean-François Jarjavay (1815–1868) as chair of anatomy, a position he held until 1886.

Sappey was a highly regarded anatomist remembered for his research of the lymphatic system. In 1874 he published an anatomical atlas that included a detailed study of cutaneous lymphatic drainage. He devised a procedure to define and delineate the lymphatic system by injecting mercury into the skin of a cadaver in order to properly view the individual lymphatic vessels. Anatomist Henri Rouvière (1876-1952) continued Sappey's anatomical work of the human lymphatic system.

Associated Eponyms

• Sappey's plexus: lymphatic network in the areola of the nipple.
• Sappey's veins: another name for paraumbilical veins of the accessory portal venous system.
• Haller-Sappey ansa: anastomosis of the glossopharyngeal nerve with the auricular branch of the vagus nerve for the sensitive innervation of the ear canal. Also referred to as Haller's ansa II; named after physiologist Albrecht von Haller (1707-1777).

Written Works

• Traité d’anatomie descriptive avec figures intercalées dans le texte. Paris. 3 volumes, 1847-1863. 2nd edition in 4 volumes, 1867-1874. considered to be the first French anatomical work that combined descriptive anatomy with histology.
• Anatomie, physiologie, pathologie des vaisseaux lymphatiques considerées chez l’homme et les vertébres. Paris, A. Delahaye & E. Lacrosnier, 1874. Known for its illustrations.
• Atlas d’anatomie descriptive. 1879
• Études sur l’appareil mucipare et sur le système lymphatique des poissons. 1880.

References

• Marie Philibert Constant Sappey @ Who Named It

Persondata
Name	Sappey, Marie Philibert Constant
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1810
Place of birth
Date of death	March 15, 1896
Place of death