Who discovered the circulation of blood in the human body, showing that blood moves continuously through the heart and blood vessels?

Introduction / Context:

The circulation of blood is a central concept in human physiology. Before it was scientifically described, many people had inaccurate ideas about how blood moved in the body. This question asks you to identify the scientist who demonstrated that blood circulates continuously through the heart and blood vessels, an important milestone in medical history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The concept in question is the circulatory system and the movement of blood.
• The question asks who discovered and described this system scientifically.
• The options list scientists from different fields, including physics, chemistry and biology.
• You must connect the correct name with the discovery of blood circulation.

Concept / Approach:

William Harvey, an English physician of the seventeenth century, is credited with discovering and explaining the circulation of blood. Through careful observation and experiment, he showed that the heart acts as a pump, sending blood through arteries and receiving it back through veins in a continuous loop. This replaced earlier incorrect ideas that blood was constantly produced and consumed in the body. Other scientists in the options made significant contributions in different areas. Robert Hooke and Robert Boyle worked in physics and chemistry, Thomas Edison in electrical inventions, and Louis Pasteur in microbiology, but none of them discovered blood circulation.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Anatomy and physiology textbooks clearly name William Harvey as the person who discovered the circulation of blood. They describe his experiments, such as demonstrating that valves in veins allow blood to flow only toward the heart. Historical accounts of medicine highlight Harvey as a key figure who used quantitative reasoning and experiments to overturn older beliefs, confirming his role in this discovery.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Thomas Edison was an American inventor associated with the electric light bulb, phonograph and many other electrical devices.

Robert Hooke is known for his work on elasticity, microscopy and the word cell in biology, but not for circulatory studies.

Robert Boyle is a founder of modern chemistry, remembered for Boyle law on gases, not for blood circulation.

Louis Pasteur made discoveries in microbiology, fermentation and vaccination, not in cardiovascular anatomy.

Common Pitfalls:

Some learners may confuse Harvey with later physiologists or with general medical figures like Pasteur. To avoid this, remember the strong pair Harvey circulation. Whenever you see a question about discovering that the heart pumps blood around the body in a loop, William Harvey should be the name you choose.

Final Answer:

The circulation of blood in the human body was discovered by William Harvey.