harvey

William Harvey • Born in England, 1578 • Studied at Univ. of Pauda • Discovered circulation of blood • Disputed Galen’s theory on blood in body • Died in 1657

Education • Son of Governor Thomas Harvey • Attended Kings School in at Folkstone • Studied art and medicine at Gonville and Caius College • Attained physician training at Pauda, the leading European Medical School • Student of Fabrici and Cremonini

Discovery • Was taught in school that blood flowed from the head over the same route, and remained still in the body • William was very curious about the function of tiny flaps in heart and other vessels • Investigated by operating on many live animals • Presented his theory that blood circulates in the body like “a river with no end”

• Said flap like structures were valves, prevented blood from flowing backwards • Wrote about his views in De motu cordis • Disputed Galen’s theory, who believed blood stood in body like the sea • Criticized at first, but views were proven and accepted shortly

Other Accomplishments • Published all his theories in the heavily criticized Exercitatio anatomica de motu cordis et sanguinis in animalibus • Waited 13 years after discovery to publish his works because they disputed Galen, no one had dared to dispute him before • Was physician to both King James and King Charles