Galen
Most influential physician for 1500 years
Quotes by Galen
The arteries contain pneuma (spirit) and not blood.
Disease is an imbalance of the four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
Dissection of animals is essential for understanding human anatomy.
The nerves originate from the brain and spinal cord.
The kidneys filter urine from the blood.
The uterus is a wandering organ.
The pulse is a reliable indicator of health and disease.
The physician should observe the patient's diet, exercise, and environment.
Pharmacology is an essential part of medical practice.
Surgery should be a last resort, but a necessary one.
The physician must be skilled in prognosis.
The soul is tripartite: rational, spirited, and appetitive.
The brain is the instrument of the rational soul.
The heart is the instrument of the spirited soul.
The liver is the instrument of the appetitive soul.
The body is a complex machine designed by a divine creator.
The blood flows from the liver to the heart, and then to the rest of the body.
The pores in the septum of the heart allow blood to pass from the right to the left ventricle.
The arteries carry vital spirit, while the veins carry blood.
The brain produces animal spirit, which flows through the nerves to control movement and sensation.