The Saga of the Monro-Kellie Doctrine

Abstract

Alexander Monro, professor of anatomy and surgery, was born in 1733 and died 1817. To avoid confusion he should be called Alexander Monro secundus, His father, Alexander Monro primus and his son, Alexander Monro tertius were also professors of anatomy at the Medical School of Edinburgh. They belonged to the Munro clan from northeast Scotland, and they represented the second, third and fourth generation of a remarkable medical family in Great Britain — a piece of medical history spanning over 300 years. Among the 15 doctors Monro in 8 generations Alexander secundus became the most famous one. At the age of 21 before he had any degree or qualification he was made professor of anatomy to aid his father in his office. The appointment document is worth quoting: ‘The Town Council ——appoint Alexander Monro elder and Alexander Monro younger, his son, conjunct professors of anatomy in the College of Edinburgh ad vitam aut culpam of them or either of them, with the right of survivency to the longest liver of them two’. Forty-four years later, Alexander Monro secundus and his son, were appointed conjunct professors of anatomy with the same wording of the appointment document (Fig. 1).

“It is thoroughly stimulating to contemplate again the gradual development and delimitation of this important doctrine of intracranial anatomy and physiology, for in this doctrine there have been elements of romance and speculation.”

Lewis H. Weed 1929