Abstract
Ibn al-Nafis (1210-1288) was an Arab physician who contributed much to the advancement of medical knowledge and science in the 13th century. He was involved in jurisprudence, politics, and anatomical studies as well. Although a prominent ophthalmologist by training, today he is most recognized for his discovery of the lesser or pulmonary circulation. His was the first work to contradict the accepted teachings of Galen, which had existed since the 2nd century AD. His description included the observation that the wall of the septum is not porous either grossly or macroscopically as was believed by earlier scholars. Therefore, blood from the venous circulation had to be directed through the pulmonary artery ("venous artery") through the lungs to be "mixed with air" and drained back to the left side of the heart through the pulmonary vein ("arterial vein"). This discovery would lead to a change in the historical observations that the pulmonary circulation was discovered by European scientists in the 16th century and lead many to wonder if these scientists had access to Ibn al-Nafis' translated works. Ibn al-Nafis was devout to his work and to his religion, contributing much to the body of knowledge in anatomy and medicine as well as being a prominent and exceptional physician.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 440-442 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | American Surgeon |
| Volume | 74 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| State | Published - May 1 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
Cite this
Ibn al-Nafis (1210-1288) : The first description of the pulmonary circulation. / Loukas, Marios; Lam, Ryan; Tubbs, R. Shane; Mohajel Shoja, Mohammadali; Apaydin, Nihal.
In: American Surgeon, Vol. 74, No. 5, 01.05.2008, p. 440-442.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ibn al-Nafis (1210-1288)
T2 - The first description of the pulmonary circulation
AU - Loukas, Marios
AU - Lam, Ryan
AU - Tubbs, R. Shane
AU - Mohajel Shoja, Mohammadali
AU - Apaydin, Nihal
PY - 2008/5/1
Y1 - 2008/5/1
N2 - Ibn al-Nafis (1210-1288) was an Arab physician who contributed much to the advancement of medical knowledge and science in the 13th century. He was involved in jurisprudence, politics, and anatomical studies as well. Although a prominent ophthalmologist by training, today he is most recognized for his discovery of the lesser or pulmonary circulation. His was the first work to contradict the accepted teachings of Galen, which had existed since the 2nd century AD. His description included the observation that the wall of the septum is not porous either grossly or macroscopically as was believed by earlier scholars. Therefore, blood from the venous circulation had to be directed through the pulmonary artery ("venous artery") through the lungs to be "mixed with air" and drained back to the left side of the heart through the pulmonary vein ("arterial vein"). This discovery would lead to a change in the historical observations that the pulmonary circulation was discovered by European scientists in the 16th century and lead many to wonder if these scientists had access to Ibn al-Nafis' translated works. Ibn al-Nafis was devout to his work and to his religion, contributing much to the body of knowledge in anatomy and medicine as well as being a prominent and exceptional physician.
AB - Ibn al-Nafis (1210-1288) was an Arab physician who contributed much to the advancement of medical knowledge and science in the 13th century. He was involved in jurisprudence, politics, and anatomical studies as well. Although a prominent ophthalmologist by training, today he is most recognized for his discovery of the lesser or pulmonary circulation. His was the first work to contradict the accepted teachings of Galen, which had existed since the 2nd century AD. His description included the observation that the wall of the septum is not porous either grossly or macroscopically as was believed by earlier scholars. Therefore, blood from the venous circulation had to be directed through the pulmonary artery ("venous artery") through the lungs to be "mixed with air" and drained back to the left side of the heart through the pulmonary vein ("arterial vein"). This discovery would lead to a change in the historical observations that the pulmonary circulation was discovered by European scientists in the 16th century and lead many to wonder if these scientists had access to Ibn al-Nafis' translated works. Ibn al-Nafis was devout to his work and to his religion, contributing much to the body of knowledge in anatomy and medicine as well as being a prominent and exceptional physician.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=44649156387&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=44649156387&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Review article
VL - 74
SP - 440
EP - 442
JO - The American surgeon
JF - The American surgeon
SN - 0003-1348
IS - 5
ER -