Monro, Alexander (1733–1817)

Scottish anatomist who determined the role of the lymphatic system, distinguishing it from the circulatory system, and wrote one of the first works of comparative anatomy.

Monro secundus, in addition to being a very famous teacher of anatomy, was also a distinguished physician and researcher. He spent a short time working under the distinguished anatomist William Hunter (1718–1783) in London, on a study of the lymphatic system. He then claimed in a subsequent publication, De venis lymphaticis 1757, that he had discovered the anatomy and role of the lymph vessels, distinguishing the lymph system from the circulatory system. This publication prompted a bitter, public dispute between him and Hunter, the latter claiming that he himself had made these discoveries earlier. Monro secundus went on to publish early accounts of the anatomy of the nervous system, eyes, and ears. In 1785 he wrote Structure and Physiology of Fishes, one of the first works of comparative anatomy.

Monro secundus was born in Edinburgh and was trained in medicine largely by his father, Monro primus, who was professor of anatomy at the University of Edinburgh. Monro secundus succeeded his father in 1754 at the age of 21. Monro secundus handed the chair in anatomy to his own son, Monro tertius (1773–1859) in 1798. The third Monro did not maintain the teaching successes of his two predecessors.

Monro, Alexander (1697–1767)

English-born anatomist who helped to found the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and to make Edinburgh one of the key centres for medical teaching in Europe.

Monro primus was born in London, the son of a prominent surgeon, and studied medicine in London, Paris, and Leiden before settling in Edinburgh first as a lecturer in anatomy, then as the professor of anatomy 1725–59. He was an enthusiastic, well-organized, and immensely popular teacher who, at the start of his career, had only 57 students in his anatomy class but several hundred by the time of his retirement.

He trained his son Monro secundus, who succeed Monro primus at the age of 21, thereby continuing a period of 120 years in which Munros ran anatomy teaching at Edinburgh Medical School.