Herophilos

Herophilus of Chalcedon (c. 330 BC; † around 255 BC) was a Greek physician, who taught in Alexandria. Herophilus and Erasistratus were slightly younger the leading anatomists of the Alexandrian school.

Herophilos received his medical education at Praxagoras of Kos, who introduced him to the humoral theory. Then he moved to Alexandria. There he founded the doctrine of the diagnostic significance of the pulse in heart disease and constructed a Taschenwasseruhr to its measurement. As one of the first difference Herophilos arteries and veins, one of the foundations for the later discovery of blood circulation (although already Praxagoras had pointed out ).

Herophilos the first scientific autopsies on humans are attributed. He pointed out also vivisection on humans and animals. This work was supported by the Egyptian royal court of the Ptolemies. The sections contributed significantly to the knowledge of the brain. He created a nomenclature of the institutions which he examined anatomically. He, among others, the first mention of the pancreas, the meninges and the oviduct is also attributed. Whether he actually like Celsus ( prooemium 1) reported as a convicted felon with Erasistratos to vivisection and was thus sentenced to death is controversial.

Of the works that have been attributed to Herophilus, six are very likely real: Anatomy, Via the pulse, obstetrics, dietetics, therapeutics and counter widespread perceptions. There are, however, only get quotes.