Who was Marcello Malpighi?
Q: Who was Marcello Malpighi?
A: Marcello Malpighi was an Italian doctor who lived from 10 March 1628 to 29 November 1694. He is known for giving his name to several physiological features, such as the Malpighian tubule system.
Q: What did Robert Hooke contribute to the microscope?
A: Robert Hooke improved the instrument of the microscope, making it more useful and accessible for scientific investigation.
Q: What discoveries did Marcello Malpighi make about the lungs?
A: Working on frogs and extrapolating to humans, Marcello Malpighi demonstrated that the lungs were not a homogeneous mass of flesh but rather had a distinct structure with air and blood mixing in them.
Q: What other organs did he study using a microscope?
A: In addition to studying the lungs, Marcello Malpighi also used a microscope to investigate skin, kidneys, and liver tissues.
Q: What groundbreaking discovery did he make about black skin?
A: After dissecting a black man's body, Marcello Malpighi found that black pigment was associated with a layer of mucus just beneath the skin - this was a groundbreaking discovery at that time.
Q: What else did he discover about animals under a microscope?
A: Under a microscope, Marcello Malpighi discovered capillaries in animals as well as their link between arteries and veins - possibly being one of the first people ever to do so. He also observed that silk worms breathe through small holes in their skin called spiracles - which turned out true for all insects.
Q: How were his botanical and zoological works published?
A: The Royal Society in London published two volumes of his botanical and zoological works in 1675 and 1679; another edition followed in 1687; while there was also supplementary volume released in 1697.
