Polish thread in the history of circulatory physiology

A review of the most outstanding achievements in physiology of circulation done by scientists and physicians from Poland and evaluation of their contribution to the world knowledge in this matter is presented in the paper. The authors associate the beginnings of the Polish history of studying heart and its diseases with the brilliant physician from the XIV(th) century - Thomas of Wrocław, and then in the XVI(th) century, with the most eminent physician of Polish Renaissance, the expert on pulse, Joseph Struś. The attempts to address the issues related to the circulatory system over historical period of early ages, through baroque and the blooming period in medicine of the XIX(th), up to our times, were presented. The memories of the exceptional and the more or less known in the world cardiologic ancestors, associated with Poland, were recalled, such as: Adam.Ch. Thebesius, Robert Remak, Edward Korczyński, Oscar Widmann, Napoleon Cybulski, Joseph Pawiński, Andrew Klisiecki, Adolph Beck, Leon Popielski, Wiesław Hołobut and many others. The analysis of Polish achievements in the field of diagnosing and treatment of the ischaemic heart disease, starting from beginnings of the XIX(th) century, was performed. The authors also tried to recapitulate the achievements of the last 50 years in cardiological diagnostics, modern interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery along with transplantology and the scientific programmes concerning these issues. The examples of the greatest scientific achievements related to the circulatory system and to myocardial physiology and pathology over the period of recent decade were described.