- A dictionary of medical eponyms

Family Monro

Born  
Died  

Related eponyms

    A family of three Scottish physicians who held the chair of anatomy at the University of Edinburgh for 126 years, from 1720 to 1846.

    Biography of Family Monro

    A family of three Scottish physicians who held the chair of anatomy at the University of Edinburgh for 126 years, from 1720 to 1846. The Monros were all named Alexander, and differentiated as primus, secundus and tertius. The founding father of this dynasty of medicine was John Monro, a military surgeon who settled in Edinburgh around the year 1700 and influenced in the founding of a medical school in that town.

    It was particularly during the tenures of the Monro primus and secundus, that the University of Edinburgh was lifted to international prominence as a centre of medical teaching in the 18th and 19th centuries. They exerted a great influence on medicine by contributing to the education of physicians and surgeons throughout the world besides making important contributions to scientific knowledge.

    Although only Secundus is associated with eponyms, all three have been entered here. See:

    Alexander Monro, primus, 1698-1767.
    Alexander Monro, secundus, 1733-1817.
    Alexander Monro, tertius, 1773-1859.

    What is an eponym?

    An eponym is a word derived from the name of a person, whether real or fictional. A medical eponym is thus any word related to medicine, whose name is derived from a person.

    What is Whonamedit?

    Whonamedit.com is a biographical dictionary of medical eponyms. It is our ambition to present a complete survey of all medical phenomena named for a person, with a biography of that person.

    Disclaimer:

    Whonamedit? does not give medical advice.
    This survey of medical eponyms and the persons behind them is meant as a general interest site only. No information found here must under any circumstances be used for medical purposes, diagnostically, therapeutically or otherwise. If you, or anybody close to you, is affected, or believe to be affected, by any condition mentioned here: see a doctor.