Luigi Galvani was an Italian physician and physicist born in Bologna on September 9, 1737, who became one of the most influential scientists of the 18th century. After obtaining his degree in medicine and philosophy from the University of Bologna in 1759, he began his academic career as a lecturer of anatomy at the same institution in 1762. Galvani's early work focused on comparative anatomy, particularly the genitourinary tract of birds, which established his reputation as a meticulous researcher. He married Lucia Galleazzi, the daughter of one of his professors, who became an invaluable collaborator throughout his scientific career. He later became professor of anatomy and surgery in 1773 at the University of Bologna, where he would conduct his groundbreaking research on bioelectricity.
Galvani's most significant contribution came through his experiments with frog muscles, where in 1780 he discovered that electrical stimulation could cause muscular contractions even in dead tissue. His famous experiment involving frog legs, metals, and electrical sparks demonstrated that animal tissues contained intrinsic electrical properties, which he termed "animal electricity." This revolutionary concept was detailed in his seminal treatise "De viribus electricitatis in motu musculari" published in 1791, which established the foundation for the fields of bioelectricity and electrophysiology. Though initially disputed by Alessandro Volta, who argued the electricity came from the metals rather than the animal tissue, Galvani's theory was ultimately validated when Emil du Bois-Reymond measured the injury potential from frog muscle in 1843. These discoveries represented a paradigm shift in understanding the relationship between electricity and biological processes.
Galvani's work sparked one of the most significant scientific controversies of the 18th century with Alessandro Volta, whose investigations into the "metallic electricity" theory ultimately led to the invention of the voltaic pile, the first electric battery. Despite the controversy, Galvani's insights into bioelectricity laid the groundwork for numerous medical advancements, including the development of devices like pacemakers and neural stimulators. His legacy endures through the scientific terms "galvanism" and "galvanize," which directly reference his pioneering discoveries about electrical stimulation of tissues. Though he died in relative obscurity on December 4, 1798, Galvani's contributions were eventually recognized as foundational to both physiology and electrical science. Today, he is celebrated as the father of electrophysiology whose work continues to illuminate the intricate electrical nature of biological systems.
