August Krogh

The most direct evidence of the wonderful plasticity and elasticity of red corpuscles is obtained when they are watched in a current, where they can be caught against a projecting edge and bent by the pressure of the current flowing past them.

Danish Scientist

Primarily used in medical or biological context to describe small cells in the body.

Medical Use

Corpuscle refers to components of complex systems within the body like the circulatory system.

Body Components

The word implies something very small and is not used for larger cells or structures.

Size Implication

In physics, 'corpuscle' is often associated with outdated theories of light and matter.

Physical Science

It's an older term in science; modern physics uses 'particle' more frequently.

Historic Term

Corpuscles in physical contexts predate quantum mechanics which views particles as having wave properties.

Quantum Mechanics

 of tiny, atom-like particles, which he called corpuscles. Using this assumption, he was able to explain some properties of light. For example, refraction, which is how a beam of light appears to bend as it passes from air into water. But, in science, even geniuses sometimes get things wrong.