بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الرَّحْمَـٰنِ
الرَّحِيمِ
الْمَلِكِ
الْقُدُّوسِ
السَّلَامِ
1446 - ذُو الْحِجَّة
الْمُؤْمِنِ
الْمُهَيْمِنِ
الْعَزِيزِ
الْجَبَّارُ
الْمُتَكَبِّرُ
L
O
A
D
I
N
G
Fajr
04:00 AM
✓
Asr
07:15 PM
Maghrib
09:22 PM
Isha
11:00 PM
Jumu'ah
02:00 PM
The Discovery Of Blood Circulation Context
اكتشاف الدورة الدموية
Text Size:
The Discovery of Blood Circulation Context in Islamic medicine reached a critical breakthrough with the 13th-century physician Ibn al-Nafis (1213-1288 CE), who correctly described pulmonary circulation centuries before it was "discovered" in Europe. Born in Damascus, Ibn al-Nafis moved to Cairo, where he served as chief physician at the renowned Mansuri Hospital. In his Commentary on Anatomy in Avicenna's Canon, he challenged the centuries-old Galenic theory that blood passed directly from the right ventricle to the left ventricle through invisible pores in the septum. Through logical reasoning and observation (dissection was limited but not entirely absent), Ibn al-Nafis concluded that such pores were impossible and proposed that blood must travel from the right ventricle to the lungs, mix with air, and then return to the left ventricle. He wrote: "The blood from the right chamber must flow into the left chamber, but there is no direct pathway between them. The thick septum of the heart is not perforated and does not have visible pores as some people thought... It must be that the blood passes through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, spreads through its substance, mingles with air, then passes through the pulmonary vein to reach the left chamber." This precise description of pulmonary circulation predates the European discovery by Michael Servetus (16th century) and William Harvey's complete description of systemic circulation (17th century) by over 300 years. Ibn al-Nafis's work remained largely unknown in Europe until it was rediscovered in the 20th century, though it may have influenced later anatomists through Latin translations. His contributions extended to detailed descriptions of coronary circulation, the brain's ventricular system, and criticisms of Galenic anatomy. For Muslims, Ibn al-Nafis represents the empirical tradition in Islamic medicine, demonstrating that Muslim physicians were not merely preservers of Greek knowledge but original thinkers who advanced medical science through critical analysis and observation. His discovery illustrates the compatibility of faith and scientific inquiry, as his anatomical studies were motivated by understanding Allah's creation and preserving health.
Viewed 172 times
Browse Dictionary
Join Our Mission to Preserve Islamic Knowledge
"The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it."
- Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Missing Terms
Is there an Islamic term you'd like to see explained? Share it with us and help others learn.
Report Issues
If you notice any inaccuracies or areas for improvement, please let us know so we can correct them.
Source References
Have authentic references or additional information for existing terms? We welcome contributions.
Arabic Corrections
Help us ensure Arabic spellings and diacritical marks are accurate.
Together, we can build the most comprehensive and accurate Islamic dictionary online.
Submit Your Feedback
Donate Now !
Registered Charity
