Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
William Harvey, Exercitatio anatomica de motu cordis & sanguinis in animalibus, 1639
Circulation of the blood
William Harvey (1578-1657), English physician, discovered the circulation of blood and the role of the heart in its propulsion. In the course of his studies, he refuted the prevaling theories of Galen, laying the foundation for modern physiology.As a lecturer at the College of Physicians in London, Harvey discussed the function of the heart and how it propelled the blood in a circular course. He arrived at his conclusions, not only by an elaborate series of dissections, but also by careful studies of the motion of the heart and blood in a wide range of living animals. His methods and observations set a standard for future biological research.
Harvey's Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus (Anatomical Essay on the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals) described his experimental methods and conclusions on the mechanism of the circulatory system. Although he met some initial criticism, Harvey eventually achieved widespread recognition for his achievements, including appointments as physician to the court of King James I and as personal physician to King Charles I.
The illustration is from the collection of online images available through the National Library of Medicine.