Ernest Henry Starling English physiologist, founder of the English school of physiologists Date of Birth: 17.04.1866 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Ernest Henry Starling

Ernest Henry Starling was an English physiologist and the creator of the English school of physiologists. He primarily worked at University College London, but also spent considerable time abroad in Germany and France. In London, he collaborated with his brother-in-law, William Maddock Bayliss. Starling is most famous for his discovery of the Frank-Starling law in 1915, which was further developed in 1919. This law demonstrated the relationship between the systolic pressure of the heart and the end-diastolic volume of blood.

Starling gained attention for his involvement in the "brown dog affair," a notorious vivisection scandal. The scandal erupted after Bayliss dissected a live dog in front of students during a lecture. Starling and Bayliss often resorted to various forms of vivisection in their work, as their chosen branch of medicine required extensive experimentation and a thorough study of the internal structure of living organisms.

In 1891, at the age of 25, Starling married Florence Amelia Wooldridge, the widow of one of his mentors, Leonard Charles Wooldridge. Wooldridge proved to be an excellent wife, assisting Starling in his work by serving as his secretary, managing his affairs, and providing attentive support. She was also an exceptional mother, raising and nurturing their four children.

Among Starling's notable achievements is the Starling equation, a formula that describes the principles of fluid movement in the human body. He also made significant contributions alongside Bayliss, including the discovery of peristalsis, the isolation of the world's first hormone, secretin, and the development of the concept of the hormonal system as a whole. It is worth mentioning that Starling was the one who discovered the role of the renal distal convoluted tubule in water and electrolyte absorption.

In 1899, Starling became a member of the Royal Society in London. Two of his grandchildren, Boris Starling and Belinda Starling, became writers.

Ernest Starling passed away on May 2, 1927, during a journey to the Caribbean. On May 4, 1927, his body was laid to rest in Kingston, Jamaica.