This deep dive covers How Did Harvey Prove It? within Harvey and Circulation for GCSE History. Revise Harvey and Circulation in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 3 of 14 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🧠 How Did Harvey Prove It?
Dissection — Studied hearts of over 40 species of animals. Observed valves in veins only allowed blood to flow one way.
Calculation — Measured the heart pumped about 60mL per beat. At 72 beats/minute = 260 litres per hour. The liver couldn't make that much!
Experiments — Tied off veins to show blood built up below the tie (proving blood moved towards heart). Used cold-blooded animals (slower heartbeat) to observe pumping.
Publication — On the Motion of the Heart (1628) explained his findings with detailed diagrams.
Practice questions for Harvey and Circulation
In which year did William Harvey publish 'On the Motion of the Heart'?
According to Galen's theory, where was blood produced in the body?
Quick recall flashcards
What does blood circulation mean?
The same blood circulates continuously around the body, pumped by the heart — it is not made in the liver and 'used up' (as Galen believed)
What did Galen believe about blood?
Made in liver, "used up" by organs, passed through invisible holes in heart