Richard Lower (1631–1691) and his early contributions to cardiology

doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2007.11.069

International Journal of Cardiology

Volume 128, Issue 1, 1 August 2008, Pages 17-21

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2007.11.069 Get rights and content

Abstract

Although little is written of Richard Lower he was perhaps the most influential English physiologist of the seventeenth century after Harvey. He is most remembered for his works on transfusion and the function of the cardiopulmonary system (Tractatus de Corde). Herein, we review the life of this important historical medical figure and present his little known posthumously published appendix regarding the function and morphology of the heart as published in John Browne's Myographia Nova.

References (6)

J.H. Felts
Richard Lower: anatomist and physiologist
Ann Int Med
(2000)
T.M. Brown
R. Lower
An account of the experiment of transfusion, practiced upon a man in London
Yale J Biol Med
(2002)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (16)

The first descriptions of various anatomical structures and embryological remnants of the heart: A systematic overview
2017, International Journal of Cardiology
Citation Excerpt :
He spent several years working with other scientists at Oxford and in particular with Thomas Willis (1621–1675) and after the death of his teacher he entered the Royal College of Physicians in 1671. His main interests were transfusions and the study of the cardiopulmonary system [81]. Previously, in 1651, Nathanael Highmore (Fig. 13) described the intervenous tubercle as a transverse cartilaginous protuberance between the superior and inferior vena cava, calling it “striga” in Latin [82].
In the present study a brief overview of the history regarding the development of the knowledge of the macroscopic and microscopic anatomical elements of the heart along with some embryological remnants of the heart has been conducted. The evolution of the awareness as regards the various anatomical and embryonic structures of the heart began from Greek medico-philosophers, such as Hippocrates, Herophilus, Erasistratus and Galen, however, such knowledge was enpowered from the meticulous study of philosophers and physicians until the era of modern anatomy. In specific, the following anatomical and embryological structures are displayed: aortic and pulmonary valve, auricles, bundle of Kent, cardiac nerves, conduction system of the heart, ductus arteriosus, intervenous tubercle of Lower, left atrial oblique vein and ligament of Marshall, limbus of fossa ovalis, mitral and tricuspid valve, nodes or nodules of Arantius, ovale foramen, septomarginal trabecula, sinus of Valsava, small cardiac veins or vessels of Thebesius, tendinous chordae and papillary muscles, tendon of the valve of the inferior vena cava and triangle of Koch, valve of the coronary sinus, valve of the inferior vena cava.
Pulsus paradoxus; historical and clinical perspectives
2010, International Journal of Cardiology
This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).
This article has been retracted at the request of the editor as the authors have plagiarized part of a paper that had already appeared in History of Medicine Online (ISSN 1471-5279, Priory Lodge Education Ltd. – http://priory.com/homol/pulsus.htm). One of the conditions of submission of a paper for publication is that authors declare explicitly that their work is original and has not appeared in a publication elsewhere. Re-use of any data should be appropriately cited. As such this article represents a severe abuse of the scientific publishing system. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the submission process.
Pericardial tamponade, a diagnostic chameleon: from the historical perspectives to contemporary management
2023, Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Blood transfusion and venous cannulation-medical publication and innovation across 350 years of history: A narrative review
2021, Bali Journal of Anesthesiology
Pulmonary rehabilitation: History and definition
2021, International Journal on Disability and Human Development
A History of Fluid Management
2020, Perioperative Fluid Management: Second Edition

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

ReviewRichard Lower (1631–1691) and his early contributions to cardiology

Abstract

Richard Lower: anatomist and physiologist

Ann Int Med

An account of the experiment of transfusion, practiced upon a man in London

Yale J Biol Med

Review
Richard Lower (1631–1691) and his early contributions to cardiology