Erasistratus of Samos

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Dajč, E. (2017). Erasistratus of Samos: The Renowned Hellenistic Cardiologist and His Contributions to Medicine, (36), 8-19. Retrieved from https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=660236
Details
Title

Erasistratus of Samos

Subtitle

The Renowned Hellenistic Cardiologist and His Contributions to Medicine

Author

Eduard, Dajč

Journal

Acta historiae medicinae, stomatologiae, pharmaciae, medicinae veterinariae

Volume
Issue

36

Start page

8

End page

19

ISSN
ISBN
DOI
URL

https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=660236

Date

2017-2021/10/20/08:15:49

Abstract

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to shed some light on the life and work of Erasistratus of Samos (304–227 BCE), and especially on his discoveries regarding the work of cardiovascular system. The focus of the article is on Erasistratus’ priority in conceptualizing the blood circulation over Sir Willem Harvey some twenty centuries later. Erasistratus wasn’t the first to speculate the concept of blood circulation, but he was the first to comprehensively describe and prove it. The attention is also devoted to his work in other branches of the medicine, which is no less important: neuro–histology, anatomy, physiology, anatomy and physiology of digestive and uropoetic system, as well as his work in gynecology (sterility in women) and andrology (impotence in men). He fathered many practical inventions, such as the instrument for embriotomy, “Erasistratus’ patch” in treating rheumatic conditions etc.

Keywords

cardiovascular system, Erasistratus, Galen, history of medicine, William Harvey