Who is credited with the discovery of blood circulation?

William Harvey is credited with the discovery of blood circulation due to his groundbreaking work in the early 17th century. In his seminal publication, "De Motu Cordis" (On the Motion of the Heart and Blood), published in 1628, he systematically described how blood circulates throughout the body, detailing the role of the heart as a pump that propels blood through a closed system of vessels. Harvey's observations were based on meticulous dissections and experiments, which allowed him to challenge and ultimately overturn the prevailing theories of blood flow at the time, which were not accurate.

His work laid the foundation for modern physiology and greatly advanced the understanding of the cardiovascular system, making it clear that blood is not only produced in the liver (as was commonly believed before his research), but rather is continuously cycled throughout the body. This discovery has had profound implications for medicine and biology, influencing the way we understand and treat various medical conditions.

The other individuals mentioned in the choices made significant contributions in their respective fields, but none focused specifically on the systemic circulation of blood as Harvey did. Gregory Pincus is best known for his contributions to reproductive biology, particularly in the development of the oral contraceptive pill. Leonardo da Vinci made notable advancements in various