School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Adv Physiol Educ. 2022 Dec 1;46(4):593-597. doi: 10.1152/advan.00126.2022. Epub 2022 Aug 25.
The year 2023 marks the 300th anniversary of the death of Antonio Maria Valsalva (1666-1723). Valsalva was a leading physician across the 17th and 18th centuries, specifically for his focus on experimental physiology, the science dealing with the normal functioning of bodily organs as a basis for a better understanding of diseases, symptoms, and care. He used a top-down systematic approach typical of the Enlightenment, rather than a heuristic one ("trial-and-error"), which became feasible after the long-lasting ban on dissecting human corpses was lifted. Valsalva's main interest was exploring the complex structure of the human ear, to which he dedicated a specific treatise, . He understood the issues inherent in the imbalance in pressure between the outer and inner ear and found ways to exploit it to get rid of purulent fluid by deliberately raising the inside pressure with his maneuver. Time was however not yet ripe to see the broader importance that the Valsalva maneuver would achieve, not just in otorhinolaryngology, but also in cardiology and other fields of medicine. Although Valsalva's name is usually associated with his maneuver, his contributions to the history of medicine were broader: he discovered several anatomical parts (i.e., the sinuses of Valsalva), built the basis for the development of pathological anatomy, introduced advances in surgery, and promoted compassionate care of patients affected by mental diseases. Antonio Maria Valsalva (1666-1723) was a pioneer in experimental physiology between the 17th and 18th centuries. The Valsalva maneuver is still a popular academic topic and has broad applications not only in physiology research, but also in the diagnosis and therapy of various diseases. The celebration of 300 years from his death could be a timely occasion to commemorate the scientific works of this illustrious scientist.
2023 年是安东尼奥·玛丽亚·瓦尔萨尔瓦（Antonio Maria Valsalva）逝世 300 周年。瓦尔萨尔瓦是 17 世纪至 18 世纪的一位杰出医生，尤其专注于实验生理学，这一学科涉及身体器官的正常功能，旨在更好地理解疾病、症状和治疗方法。他采用了启蒙运动中自上而下的系统方法，而不是试错法。在长期禁止解剖人体的禁令解除后，这种方法变得可行。瓦尔萨尔瓦的主要兴趣是探索人类耳朵的复杂结构，为此他专门写了一篇论文。他了解外耳和内耳之间压力不平衡所带来的问题，并找到了通过故意升高内部压力来排除脓液的方法，他的这一手法也因此得名。然而，当时还没有意识到瓦尔萨尔瓦手法的更广泛重要性，它不仅在耳鼻喉科学领域，而且在心脏病学和其他医学领域都具有重要意义。虽然瓦尔萨尔瓦手法通常与他的名字联系在一起，但他对医学史的贡献更为广泛：他发现了几个解剖部位（即瓦尔萨尔瓦窦），为病理解剖学的发展奠定了基础，引入了外科手术的进步，并提倡关爱受精神疾病影响的患者。安东尼奥·玛丽亚·瓦尔萨尔瓦（Antonio Maria Valsalva）是 17 世纪至 18 世纪实验生理学的先驱。瓦尔萨尔瓦手法至今仍是一个热门的学术话题，不仅在生理学研究中应用广泛，而且在各种疾病的诊断和治疗中也有广泛的应用。从他逝世 300 周年的角度来看，这是一个纪念这位杰出科学家科学成就的好时机。
