Source edition
Galen. Claudii Galeni Opera Omnia, Volume 4. Kühn, Karl Gottlob, editor. Leipzig: Knobloch, 1822.
Source data
A Digital Corpus for Graeco-Arabic Studies · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a scientific and philosophical treatise in which Galen investigates the mechanisms and causes of respiration. The author proposes three primary causes that drive respiration: the will, the instruments, and the utility. Grounded in this framework, the text provides a detailed anatomical explanation of the various muscles and nerves involved in the respiratory movement. Galen illustrates the specific functions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, as well as the nervous pathways that transmit impulses from the brain to these organs, demonstrating how conscious will is translated into physical motion. Ultimately, the work reveals how the vital phenomenon of respiration is sustained through the harmonious coordination of an intricate bodily system and the mind.
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