he studied medicine in leipzig, and after earning his doctorate in 1874, he became an assistant to christian wilhelm braune (1831–1892). later he was a prosector and eventually a professor at the university of tübingen. following his death in 1917, he was succeeded by martin heidenhain (1864–1949) as professor of anatomy at tübingen. he was the son of anatomist and publisher robert friedrich froriep (1804–1861).