Blood circulation

What was discovered

Through quantitative calculation, ligatures and vivisection he demonstrated that the heart pumps blood in a closed, continuous circuit. The first major application of the experimental method to physiology.

Harvey studied at Padua under Fabricius; the work was published in Frankfurt.

What it led to

• modern physiology as an experimental science
• blood transfusion and intravenous injection
• cardiology
• the search for capillaries (Malpighi, 1661)

Built on

• Illustrated anatomical atlas1543
• pulmonary circulation (Ibn al-Nafis, Servetus, Colombo)
• Fabricius ab Acquapendente's venous valves
• Vesalius's anatomy

Made possible

• Blood transfusion1665-1667
• measurement of blood pressure (Hales)

📄 Original publication

Links