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Giovanni BorelliItalian physiologist and physicist. For the first time he described muscle movement according to the laws of statics and dynamics, thus opening a new direction of science - biomechanics.
Date of Birth: 28.01.1608
Country:  Italy |
Content:
Biography of Giovanni Alfonso Borelli
Giovanni Alfonso Borelli was an Italian physiologist and physicist who is known for his contributions to the fields of biomechanics, physics, medicine, astronomy, geology, mathematics, and mechanics. He was born in Castel Nuovo, a suburb of Naples, to a Spanish soldier and an Italian woman. He later signed his works with his mother's surname, Borelli. Not much is known about his early life, but he studied in Rome and pursued medicine and mathematics under the guidance of Castelli, who was also the teacher of Torricelli.
Work and Achievements
In 1635, Borelli began working at the University of Messina and became a professor of mathematics in 1649. During this time, he had the opportunity to meet Galileo and continued his astronomical research. In 1656, he took a position as a professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa, where he met the physician Marcello Malpighi and became interested in microscopy. Borelli made significant contributions to this field and obtained valuable results.
One of Borelli's major contributions was his groundbreaking work in biomechanics. His two-volume book, "On the Movement of Animals" (De Motu Animalium), examined the organism of animals from the perspective of mathematical theory of mechanisms. He extensively studied muscle function, analyzing the heart as a pump with valves, the lungs as bellows, and the process of walking as purposeful movement of the center of gravity accompanied by measures to restore balance. Borelli examined both statics and dynamics of the body and estimated the force generated by muscles during different types of activities such as walking, running, jumping, and lifting weights. He also studied the flight of birds, swimming of fish, and the sliding motion of worms. His work was repeatedly published and had a significant impact on theoretical medicine.
Borelli also continued the systematic study of Jupiter's moons, which was started by Galileo. In his book "The Theory of Medicean Planets" (1666), he made an important conclusion that the laws of Kepler also applied to these moons. He also formulated an early version of the law of universal gravitation, suggesting that the motion of planets occurred in a state of equilibrium between the attraction to the Sun and a centrifugal force, similar to that which propels a stone from a sling. This book demonstrated the fruitful application of Galileo's "new mechanics" model to Kepler's planetary motion.
In addition to his contributions to biomechanics and astronomy, Borelli explored the possibility of creating a breathing apparatus for underwater exploration. He also studied the composition of animal blood and the function of plant stomata under a microscope.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1668, Borelli returned to Messina, but he soon faced suspicions of involvement in a political conspiracy, which forced him to flee the city. The remainder of his life was spent in poverty, working as a school teacher in Rome. His major work on biomechanics, "On the Movement of Animals," was published posthumously in 1680. Borelli is considered the founder of biomechanics, and his work had a profound impact on theoretical medicine.
Borelli's detailed commentary on Euclid's "Elements" was published in 1658, and he also published three books on conic sections by Apollonius in 1677. His contributions to various scientific fields and his innovative approach to studying the mechanics of living organisms have ensured his lasting legacy in the history of science.
