Person · reviewed

William Harvey

1578–1657

Harvey experimentally described the heart-driven circulation of blood through the body.

After studying at Padua, Harvey used observation, ligatures, animal experiments, and estimates of cardiac output to argue for circulation. He published the mature account in De Motu Cordis in 1628. Harvey combined anatomical observation with ligature experiments and estimates of how much blood the heart moved. His model overturned important Galenic assumptions, but it did not explain every part of the circuit: capillaries remained invisible until microscopy advanced after his publication.

Sources

William Harvey and the discovery of the circulation of the blood — R. E. Siegel, 2009
William Harvey and the discovery of the circulation of the blood — A. Ribatti, 2014

Concept map · prerequisites lead toward this node; descendants continue outward.

Historical portrait of physician William Harvey — Portrait of William Harvey, whose experiments supported systemic circulation. Wellcome Collection. CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Direct relationships

Anatomical theatre of Padua→William HarveyPlaced Harvey within Padua's experimental anatomy culture · medium confidence
William Harvey→Circulation of bloodPublished an experimental account of systemic circulation · high confidence