1860-1927

Dutch Physiologist

Willem Einthoven was a Dutch physiologist who, in 1924, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his invention of a string galvanometer that he used to produce the electrocardiogram (EKG), a physical recording of the electrical activity of the heart. He originated many of the ideas that govern both the technical aspects and clinical interpretation of EKG. This instrument has been vital in assessing certain types of heart disease because it records the electrical action of the heart in a noninvasive fashion. He also developed "Einthoven's Triangle," which is a central theoretical aspect in the administration and interpretation of EKG records.

Einthoven was born on May 21, 1860, in Semarang, Java, Dutch East Indies. His father, although born in the Netherlands, served as an army medical officer in the Indies. Later, he set up a medical practice in Semarang, but passed away when...