Treitz en zijn ligament

Václav (Wenzel) Treitz (1819-1872) grew up in the Czech community that was part of the Habsburg Empire. He studied medicine at the German Karl Ferdinand University in Prague where he specialised in pathological anatomy. He continued this specialisation in Vienna, under Rokitansky. In 1855, after a stint in Krakow (now Poland; then also under Austrian rule), he was appointed Professor of Pathological Anatomy in Prague during which time he discovered a small muscle that connected the duodenojejunal flexure with the coeliac axis. It was called the ‘ligament of Treitz’ for a long time, but is known today as the musculus suspensorius duodeni (suspensory muscle of duodenum). In addition to this, he focused on internal intestinal herniation alongside a peritoneal duplicature at the duodenojejunal junction (‘arch of Treitz’). Treitz taught in Czech and became increasingly involved in patriotic agitations which estranged him from most of his colleagues. Eventually, his mental as well as physical health deteriorated.

Conflict of interest: none declared. Financial support: J.P. Gijselhart works part time for the Association of the Dutch Journal of Medicine (Vereniging Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde), Amsterdam.