» Timelines of Physiology

In this section you will find the milestones marking many of the turning points in the history of physiology.

The first timeline (below) offers a review of many of the milestones related to the general development of the science. It begins with William Beaumont, who was the first American to employ the practical application of physiology when a patient's gunshot wound healed with a window-like opening. This allowed Beaumont to look directly into the stomach and study gastric function. This timeline ends with a notation about Peter Agre, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of water channels, the protein mechanism in cells that facilitates water exchange. This was an important discovery, as understanding these water channels allows scientists to study many organs, such as the kidneys that process high volumes of water everyday, providing insight into diseases affecting the loss of water in the body including diabetes insipidus. The second timeline (below) specific to the physiological discoveries relating to endocrinology and metabolism.

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Did you know that the first landmark discovery in physiology occurred nearly 200 years ago? In 1822, William Beaumont first looked directly into the stomach and was able to study gastric function. This and other important discoveries are summarized in the APS Timeline of Physiology.

The APS Timeline of Physiology - Endocrinology & Metabolism takes you through the highlights of discovery in this critical area. The timeline begins with 17th century description of what we now know as the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, and concludes with the late 20th century discovery of leptin, a critical hormone involved in regulating metabolism and reproductive functions.