Born Feb. 2, 1637, in Amsterdam; died there Feb. 15, 1680. Dutch naturalist.
Swammerdam graduated from the University of Leiden in 1663. In 1667 he defended his dissertation on respiration in animals. His main works dealt with human and animal anatomy; his animal studies centered on insects, although he also studied mollusks, amphibians, and other animals. Swammerdam proposed classifying insects by subdividing them into four groups based on the characteristics of their metamorphosis. He supported the theory of preformation and rejected the possibility of spontaneous generation. He introduced a new preparation technique, developed many instruments used in making preparations, and performed the first intravascular injection. Swammerdam designed instruments to record cardiac output, respiratory movements, and muscular contractions following the stimulation of a nerve.