1. Bio 345 - Animal Physiology
Dr. Neil F. Hadley
Office - DB 246
Office Hours: MW 1:30-3:00
Tel. No.:

2. Web Stuff - How to do it You can access my web page from home at
When you click on the link for the BIO 345, you will get a
menu from which you can access lecture and lab syllabus
Access lecture syllabus and click on Lecture link
(e.g., Lecture 1new) or
Click on Lecture Presentations, then specific lecture

3. What is Physiology? “how organisms function or work” Biochemistry &
Biophysics
Ecology
&
Evolution

4. Historical Perspective
How did we get to where we are today regarding our knowledge of physiology?
What were some of the key developments? Hindrances?
Goal = develop working plan for body

5. Aristotle (384-322 BC) and Animal Biology
Student of Plato; teacher of Alexander the Great
Set the course for the study of animal biology
First to ask questions, seek appropriate data, provide answers

6. For Aristotle, human physiology essentially a black box
Correct on those things he could see; speculated on possible functions from opened cadaver
Recognized major organs of the body
Believed food was transformed into blood; provided nourishment to the various parts
Did not offer a working plan for the human body
Uncertain as to reason for breathing…cool the body
Thought heart was the seat of intelligence

7. GALEN – 200 AD

8. Galen
Last of renowned Greek physicians – last notable human biologist until the 16th century
Moved to Rome, became physician to the gladiators, then Emperor Marcus Aurelius
Importance: not his personal discoveries, but his summation of Greek medicine from Hippocrates to his own time

9. Galen’s Thoughts on Circulation
Blood formed in liver
Blood from liver flows to heart enroute to tissues
Blood passes back and forth through vessels
Blood seeps through intraventricular septum
Blood renewed with each beat

10. Galen’s contributions
Produced enormous body of writings
Major contributions to anatomy which were based on dissections of small monkeys (macaque)
His description of human physiology is based on a 3-part plan:
Liver (source of veins; nourish body with blood)
Heart (source of arteries; provide “vital pneuma”)
Brain (producer of “psychic pneuma; sensations)

11. Dark Ages Why did Galen’s view survive for 1400 yrs?
Anatomy poorly known
Anatomy known dealt with containing parts, not contents within parts
Poor communication
Absence of “controlled” experimentation

12. William Harvey ( )

13. William Harvey 16th Century English physician (personal
physician to King)
Well educated (Univ of Padua in Italy)
1628 – de Motu Cordis et Sanquinis
(“On the Motion of the Heart and Blood
in Animals”)
Still considered one of the most important
publications in history of physiology

14. Harvey’s Discoveries Described muscular nature of heart
Origin of heartbeat
Basis for the “pulse”
Described pulmonary and systemic circuits (blow flow is unidirectional)

15. Harvey’s Experiments Stroke volume (amt of blood pumped per unit time)
Unidirectional blood flow
Garlic Test

16. Conclusions
Missing Information – How does blood flow from arteries to veins?
(Malpighi, microscope, frog lungs)
First “experimental physiologist”
Techniques as important as findings