Meckel's diverticulum and the eponymous legend.

Johann Friedrich Meckel (1781-1833) was a 19th century anatomist born into an eminent dynasty. He was a professor of anatomy, pathology, and zoology at the University of Halle, in Central Germany. The diverticulum, a congenital remnant of the vitellointestinal duct was named after him. Other eponyms include Meckel's cartilage, Meckel syndrome, and Meckel-Serres law of recapitulation. His concepts in comparative anatomy, embryology, and teratology anticipated Darwin. This review is a short tribute to this legend and his prolific contributions. LEVEL: Historic review, level V.