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Galen: On Blood, the Pulse, and the Arteries

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Abstract

This essay examines several important issues regarding Galen’s depiction of the physiology of the arteries. In the process some of Galen’s supporting doctrines on the blood and pulse will also be discussed in the context of a coherent scientific explanation. It will be the contention of this essay that though Galen may often have a polemical goal in mind, he correctly identifies the important and complex role of the arteries in human biological systems.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge the help of many in the construction of this essay, particularly William Mullins, Pat Petrick, Richard Grant, and William Aird for their medical expertise.

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  1. Department of Philosophy, Marymount University, 2807 N. Globe Road, Arlington, VA, 22207, USA

    Michael Boylan

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  1. Michael Boylan
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Correspondence to Michael Boylan.

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Boylan, M. Galen: On Blood, the Pulse, and the Arteries. J Hist Biol 40, 207–230 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10739-006-9116-2

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