William Harvey was the first to prove that blood continuously circulates throughout the body in a contained system. But Harvey had many predecessors, including Andrea Cesalpino, who first used the term "circulatio" to describe the movement of blood. Another 16th century doctor to describe circulation was Spanish physician Michael Servetus. In his book "Christianisimi Restitutio," Servetus described circulation of the blood through the lungs, but he was not able to further develop this theory. Because his book included anti-Trinitarian ideas, Servetus was found guilty of heresy and blasphemy and was burned at the stake in Geneva on this date in 1553. Servetus told his judges, "We shall continue our discussion in eternity."

Copyright InteliHealth, Inc., 2011. All rights reserved.