Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, a famous Russian physiologist and physician was born at Ryazan, on September 14, 1849. His father named Peter Dmitrievich Pavlov was a priest in Ryazan. He did his first schooling in a church school of Ryazan. Early life and education
Initially Pavlov was unaware of science, but it was in the year 1860 when the liberal thoughts of I. M. Sechenov known as the father of Russian physiology and D. I. Pisarev (the then most famous Russian literary critics) incited him to discard his religious studies and dedicated his whole life in studying science. As a result, he got himself registered in the mathematics and physics to pursue natural science, in 1870. Gradually, Pavlov started and developed a keen interest in physiology. It was his initial academic thesis that defined the working of the physiology related to pancreatic nerves.
Pavlov finished his study in 1875 with an excellent record and got the degree in Candidate of Natural Sciences. Nonetheless, encouraged by his irresistible curiosity in physiology subject, he determined to carry on his course and head for the Academy of Medical Surgery in order to pursue the third course. In 1879, he finished this and was once again honored by gold medal.