WILLIAM HARVEY: BIOGRAPHY, CONTRIBUTIONS, INVENTIONS, WORKS - ARTE - 2024

William Harvey (1578-1657) was a British physician and natural historian known for his contributions to human anatomy and physiology. His greatest contribution was to correctly describe the functioning of blood circulation in the body, as well as the properties of blood.

Known to many as the father of cardiology, his work on the circulatory system called Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus was published in 1628 in Frankfurt (Germany). The chosen place was not random, having a reason that we will see later.

Portrait of William Harvey. Source: peoples.ru

With his discovery, Harvey confirmed some ideas proposed by the scientist René Descartes in his description of the human body years earlier. Miguel Servet, Mateo Realdo Colombo or Jacques Dubois also approached the theory of the English scientist in their writings, but with unfinished nuances.

When Harvey demonstrated with his “Motu Cordis” how blood circulated, he banished the previous theory, which belonged to Galen and which had persisted for 1400 years.

However, not everything was a fairy tale for one of the most important anatomical scientists in history. In fact, it wasn't until 1661, four years after her death, that her great find was recognized.

Biography

Childhood

William Harvey was born on April 1, 1578 in Folkestone, Kent, a coastal town in the south-east of England.

It is born from the fruit of the relationship between Thomas Harvey and Joan, who had nine children. William was the oldest of them. In addition, he had a sister from a previous marriage of his father.

His father was an important merchant of the time. He was involved in transport and agriculture and did business with London. Most of Thomas's siblings followed in their father's footsteps, and some managed to secure seats at court.

The importance in the town of this family was such that their residence was considered "The Post Office", the post office. In addition, her father came to assume the mayor of Folkestone.

Canterbury

Thus, William spent a comfortable childhood being able to study from a very young age. He studied elementary school in his locality and at the age of 10 he moved to his uncle's home in Canterbury to study at King's College.

During his time in Canterbury he learned Latin and studied the classics. He was a very disciplined boy and a good student, so he was soon able to enroll at the University of Cambridge.

University stage

Specifically, he studied at Gonville & Caius College, which has notable graduates such as Stephen Hawking, James Chadwick, Francis Crick and, in a fictitious way, the famous detective Sherlock Holmes.

He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1597 and spent time traveling through France, Germany, and finally Italy. Ambitious as he was, he enrolled in 1599 at the University of Padua (Italy), the center of medical knowledge in those years.

In fact, the University of Cambridge followed the Italianizing guidelines of the Padua institution. This is because John Caius (1510 - 1573), one of the founders of the illustrious university, developed his training in Padua.

Entering this university center was key for Harvey to develop his theories about the circulatory system, since he had Gerónimo Fabricio (1537 - 1619) as his tutor on anatomy, with whom he was joined by a great friendship.

Fabrizio was a student of Andreas Vesalius (1514 - 1564), the first scientist to dissect human bodies and considered the father of anatomy. This knowledge of surgery and observation could be passed on to Harvey, who was able to dissect animals and fetuses.

Medical degree

In April 1602 he obtained his medical degree at only 24 years old, which gave him honors in England. That same year he obtained the title of Doctor of Medicine at the University of Cambridge and two years later he entered the Royal College of Physicians in London.

In his final exam at the University of Padua, his teachers wrote on his diploma how surprised they were by his skills and efficiency in conducting the exam, although they acknowledged that they did not have high hopes for him.

Work activity and last years

He served as a physician at the Hospital de San Bartolomé and as a professor at the prestigious Lumleian conferences. But his greatest professional achievement was when he was appointed "Extraordinary Physician" of King James I in 1618, to later be also of Carlos I.

He also worked for other aristocrats close to royalty, as well as illustrious figures of the time such as the philosopher and politician Francis Bacon.

It was during this time that William Harvey published Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus, being a turning point in his career as a doctor.

Last years

The last years of his life were spent defending himself against accusations that questioned his work. Although the criticism was harsh and they came to describe him as a "charlatan", the great scientist always enjoyed a good humor and withdrew from public life to tour the country, read and observe the behavior of birds.

He was married from 1604 to Elizabeth Browne, daughter of a wealthy doctor, but they had no children. His wealth and patrimony was distributed among relatives and the Royal College of Physicians of London.

His death came on June 3, 1657 at age 79, probably caused by a cerebral hemorrhage.

Contributions to science and inventions

His main contribution to science was his anatomical study of the movement of the heart and blood. A theory that broke with the reasonings until now accepted by the medical researcher Galen of Pergamum (129 - 206).

It was in 1628 when Harvey published in Frankfurt Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus (Anatomical exercise on the movement of the heart and blood in animals). It was published in the German city because an annual book fair was held there, which provided a wider dissemination.

In the work he presented a new thesis on the functioning of blood circulation in the body. Taking into account that in 1 hour the heart is capable of shedding three times its body weight, Harvey wondered where the blood that the central organ of the circulatory system was coming from and where goes.

Artery experiment

Harvey conducted an experiment in which he ligated an artery to observe how the end closest to the heart filled with blood. He subsequently tied a vein, filling the end farthest from the heart. With this, the English scientist showed that the blood always takes the same route to return to the starting point.

Harvey considered it valid, but many of his colleagues in the profession continued to question it. The main drawback was that there was no connection between arteries and veins.

It had to be in 1661 when the Italian physician Marcello Malpighi (1628 - 1694) showed that arteries and veins did have a connection through capillaries. He was able to observe these tissues thanks to recent technical improvements of the microscope. William Harvey, unfortunately, did not live to see his work recognized and verified.

Observation of viviparous living beings

Although it had less impact, with his work Exercitationes de generatione animalium, quibus accedunt quaedam de partu, de membranis ac humoribus uteri, et de conceptione, Harvey carried out observations on chicken eggs and other viviparous animals that gave another insight into living things.

He mentions for the first time the oocyte concept ("ex ovo Omnia"), in which he suggests that mammals (including humans) have an "egg" where the successor individual is gestated. This was to contradict the theorists of spontaneous generation and the Aristotelian theories regarding human nature.

Some of these scientific contributions were a scandal for the time, but time was shown that Harvey revolutionized the various life sciences that we know today as physiology, anatomy, biology, zoology or genetics.

Published works

His work is brief and limited to three publications, but their importance is quite significant:

Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus (1628)

Known as “Motu Cordis”, it develops the theory about the blood circulation model and the functions of the valves. One of the most important books in the history of medicine despite its detractors.

Among them, the French Jean Riolan “The young man” (1577 - 1657), who was more akin to Galen's theories and published Encheiridium anatomicum (1648), where he contradicted Harvey's proposal.

Exercitationes anatomicae prima et altera de circulatione sanguinis ad Joannem Riolanum filium (1649)

This second work by Harvey was born as a response to Jean Riolan. This is a second essay by "Motu Cordis" in which he refuted the French anatomist's claims. He used verbal arguments, but also experimental ones. Time proved Harvey right.

Exercitationes de generatione animalium, quibus accedunt quaedam de partu, de membranis ac humoribus uteri, et de conceptione (1651)

Known in Spanish as “On the generation of animals”, this work compiles observations that the English scientist carried out on eggs and the formation of embryos. His idea was to know the way in which living beings develop.

References

1. French, Roger (2004). William Harvey. Extracted from oxforddnb.com.
2. Leers, Arnold (1648). Exercitationes Duae Anatomicae De Circulatione Sanguinis Ad Joannem Riolanum filium. Rotterdam. Extracted from sophiararebooks.com.
3. Gregory, Andrew (2019). William Harvey. Extracted from britannica.com.
4. William Harvey. Extracted from Wikipedia.org.
5. William Harvey. Extracted from newworldencyclopedia.org.