Ernest Starling
| Category | Research |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Ernest Henry Starling, coined the word hormone |
| Last updated | 2026-04-14 |
| Reading time | 3 min read |
| Tags | scientisthormonesecretinphysiology |
Overview
Ernest Henry Starling (April 17, 1866 – May 2, 1927) was a British physiologist who, with his brother-in-law William Bayliss, discovered secretin in 1902 — the first substance to be demonstrated as a "hormone." In 1905, Starling coined the word hormone (from Greek hormao, to urge on) in a series of Croonian lectures, giving the new field of endocrinology its name.
Starling's contributions went well beyond hormone research. He formulated "Starling's law of the heart" (the heart's stroke volume increases in response to increased venous return), "Starling's principle" of transcapillary fluid movement (osmotic and hydrostatic balance across capillary walls), and made key observations on lymph formation and kidney function. Few physiologists have made so many foundational contributions across multiple organ systems.
Together with Bayliss, Starling also made essential methodological contributions — pioneering the study of isolated, perfused organs and developing methods for measuring hormone-like activities. Their collaboration at University College London in the late 19th and early 20th centuries established a style of rigorous integrative physiology that became a model for biomedical research.
Background
Starling was born in London, the son of a clerk in the civil service. He studied medicine at Guy's Hospital and worked in Oxford and in Germany under Rudolf Heidenhain before joining University College London in 1899 as Jodrell Professor of Physiology. He remained at UCL for the rest of his career.
His personal life intertwined with his science: his sister married William Bayliss, and the two men became close scientific collaborators. Starling was a charismatic teacher and a vocal advocate for physiology as an independent discipline with its own methods and identity.
Key Contributions
- Co-discovery of secretin (1902) with William Bayliss.
- Coined the word "hormone" (1905).
- Starling's law of the heart — cardiac output depends on venous return.
- Starling's principle of capillary fluid exchange — balance of hydrostatic and oncotic pressures.
- Pioneering work on lymph formation, kidney function, and carbohydrate metabolism.
Timeline
- 1866: Born in London.
- 1889: Medical degree from Guy's Hospital.
- 1899: Appointed Jodrell Professor of Physiology at UCL.
- 1902: Secretin discovered with Bayliss.
- 1905: Coins the word "hormone" in his Croonian lectures.
- 1915: Delivers the famous Linacre lecture "The Law of the Heart."
- 1927: Dies on a cruise, aged 61.
Modern Relevance
Starling's legacy is among the most pervasive of any physiologist. The word "hormone" is now so routine that one forgets it had to be invented. The renin-angiotensin, ANP, insulin-glucagon, and dozens of other systems all exist within the conceptual frame Starling provided.
His law of the heart remains a cornerstone of cardiovascular physiology and underlies the interpretation of Frank-Starling curves in clinical practice. His capillary principle is central to understanding edema, hypoalbuminemia, and vascular leak syndromes. For more on his hormone work, see secretin-first-hormone and william-bayliss.
Related Compounds
Related entries
- Frederick Banting— Frederick Banting was a Canadian surgeon and Nobel laureate who co-discovered insulin at the University of Toronto in 1921-1922.
- Secretin: The First Hormone— Secretin, identified in 1902 by William Bayliss and Ernest Starling, was the first molecule shown to act as a hormone and gave the field its name.
- William Bayliss— William Bayliss was the British physiologist who co-discovered secretin with Ernest Starling in 1902, launching the field of endocrinology.