In 1628, William Harvey published De Motu Cordis (On the motion of the Heart and Blood), a revolutionary work that accurately described the circulation of the blood throughout the body.

Harvey’s discovery of how the heart pumps blood through a closed circulatory system, moving it from the heart to the arteries, through the veins, and back to the heart, challenged centuries of medical beliefs that were based largely on Galen’s flawed theories. His work provided clear, evidence–based understanding of cardiovascular physiology, reshaping the study of anatomy and medicine.

This breakthrough not only improved surgical techniques and treatment of heart conditions but also laid the groundwork for modern cardiovascular research, influencing the development of treatments for a wide array of cardiovascular diseases.