Konstantin Mikhailovich Bykov (Russian: Константин Михайлович Быков; 20 January 1886 – 13 May 1959) was a Russian Soviet

physiologist Physiology (; ) is the scientific study of functions and mechanisms in a living system. As a subdiscipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ systems, individual organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out chemical and ...

and Academician of the

USSR Academy of Medical Sciences The USSR Academy of Medical Sciences () was the highest scientific and medical organization founded in the Soviet Union founded in 1944. Its successor is the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences founded in 1992, and is a part of the Russian Academy ...

Career

In 1912 he graduated from

Kazan University Kazan Federal University (; ) is a public research university located in Kazan, Russia. The university was founded in 1804 as Imperial Kazan University, which makes it the second oldest continuously existing tertiary education institution in Rus ...

, and was engaged in scientific and teaching activities at the same university until 1921. From 1921 to 1950 he worked at the

Institute of Experimental Medicine The Institute of Experimental Education in St Petersburg is one of the oldest scientific establishments in Russia. It was founded by Alexander of Oldenburg in 1888 along the lines of Louis Pasteur's Pasteur Institute. It was here that Pavlov did m ...

, where from 1921 to 1931 he was under the direct supervision of

Ivan Pavlov Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (, ; 27 February 1936) was a Russian and Soviet experimental neurologist and physiologist known for his discovery of classical conditioning through his experiments with dogs. Pavlov also conducted significant research on ...

. From 1943 to 1948 he was head of the scientific research medical institute of the

Soviet Navy The Soviet Navy was the naval warfare Military, uniform service branch of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy made up a large part of the Soviet Union's strategic planning in the event of a conflict with t ...

. Bykov was also a professor at a number of universities in Leningrad such as the

Leningrad State University Saint Petersburg State University (SPBGU; ) is a public research university in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Russia. Founded in 1724 by a decree of Peter the Great, the university from the be ...

and the

Leningrad State Pedagogical Institute Herzen University, or formally the Russian State Pedagogical University in the name of A. I. Herzen () is a university in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It was formerly known as the Leningrad State Pedagogical Institute. It is one of the largest ...

. Bykov was one of the main speakers at the joint session of the

Soviet Academy of Sciences The Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union was the highest scientific institution of the Soviet Union from 1925 to 1991. It united the country's leading scientists and was subordinated directly to the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union (un ...

and the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences known as the

Pavlovian session The Pavlovian session () was the joint session of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences held on June 28 to July 4, 1950.Scientific Session on the Physiological Teachings of Academician Ivan P. Pavlov: June 28-July 4, ...

. The session was organized with the aim of combating the “Western influence” and idealism in Soviet physiology. From 1950 until his death, Bykov was Director of the Institute of Physiology USSR Academy of Medical Sciences. He was buried in Leningrad on the Literatorskie bridge of the

Volkovo Cemetery The Volkovo Cemetery (also Volkovskoe) ( or Во́лково кла́дбище) is one of the largest and oldest non- Orthodox cemeteries in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Until the early 20th century it was one of the main burial grounds for Lutheran ...

Scientific research

Konstantin Bykov developed the doctrine of the influence of the cerebral cortex on internal organs and the doctrine of the sensitivity of internal organs. In the field of digestive physiology, he investigated the importance of mechanical stimulation of the gastric glands and studied in detail the features of digestion in humans. In the field of experimental

balneology Balneotherapy ( "bath") is a method of treating diseases by bathing, a traditional medicine technique usually practiced at spas. Since ancient times, humans have used hot springs, public baths and thermal medicine for therapeutic effects. While ...

, Bykov collected extensive material justifying the therapeutic effects of mineral water, sulfur springs and radon baths on various body functions.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bykov, Konstantin 1886 births 1959 deaths Russian physiologists Academicians of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences Academicians of the USSR Academy of Architecture Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, 1951–1955 Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, 1955–1959 Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, 1959–1963 Kazan Federal University alumni Academic staff of Kazan Federal University Academic staff of Saint Petersburg State University Academic staff of Herzen University Academic staff of the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Burials at Volkovo Cemetery