René-Joseph-Hyacinthe Bertin

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

René-Joseph-Hyacinthe Bertin (1757-1828) was a French anatomist known for his pioneer work in cardiology. He is remembered for penning Traité des Maladies du Coeur et des Gros Vaisseaux (Treatise of Diseases of the Heart and Major Vessels), an important work concerning the pathological anatomy of the heart. In this book he discusses topics such as auscultation, valvular deformities and hypertrophy of the heart. His student Jean-Baptiste Bouillaud (1796–1881) assisted Bertin with edition of the treatise.

Bertin originated the idea of having three designations of cardiac hypertrophy, which he called "eccentric", "concentric" and "simple" hypertrophy of the heart.

References

• Description of Traité des Maladies du Coeur et des Gros Vaisseaux