Herbst Corpuscles
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Herbst corpuscles are oval, encapsulated nerve endings found in the bills of ducks and other water birds. Serving as tactile corpuscles, they closely resemble the Vater-Pacini corpuscles of higher animals.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
HERBST CORPUSCLES (Herbst), oval encapsulated nerve endings found in the bill of ducks and other water birds. Herbst corpuscles appear as oval formations (140x80 μ), covered by a lamellar connective-tissue capsule, inside of which, forming the inner bulb, lie 6-10 rounded clear cells (resembling Merkel cells); a myelinated nerve fiber pierces the capsule and branches between the cells of the inner bulb, forming a dense fibrillar network. Herbst corpuscles belong to tactile corpuscles and resemble the Vater-Pacini corpuscles of higher animals.
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Cite this page
“Herbst Corpuscles.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/herbst-corpuscles/