Hernández MN

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 8-18
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ABSTRACT

Introduction: Experimental Physiology is recognized as a prosperous science at present. Its increasing number of results, applications, hundreds of journals, dozens of scientific societies, and the most important prize in the Biological Sciences (The Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine) strengthen its current importance. In Cuba, although to a lower scale, Physiology has a high level of results with applications, publications, etcetera. We could think that all this development of Physiology has occurred after the changes made in the Cuban Society, which started from January 1st, 1959.
Objective: to specify the antecedents and the origin of Experimental Physiology in Cuba.
Material and methods: The historical-logical method was used after the analysis of the sequence of facts (the historical), relating them with the course of development of Physiology in Europe (the logical).
Development: It began with the analysis of the antecedents of Physiology from ancient times to Harvey´s Discovery, and Bernard´s Hypothesis. It continued with the description of the origin of Physiology in Cuba during the first half of the 20th century.
Conclusions: The teaching of Physiology in Cuba began in 1728 in the recently organized Medical Faculty. The first Cuban book of Physiology (Lecciones orales de fisiología médica, 1843), written by Dr. Le Riverend, contributed to the teaching establishment of Experimental Physiology in Cuba. The emergence of Experimental Physiology in Cuba at the beginning of the 20th century, was guided by the first Cuban experimental physiologist, Dr. Grau San Martín; the patriot and benefactor Rosalía González-Abreu is considered as our first Physiologist of primates.