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Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 18 (5): 562-568, 2013
ISSN 1990-9233
© IDOSI Publications, 2013
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2013.18.5.75133
Corresponding Author: Saeed Changizi Ashtiyani, Department of Physiology, Arak University of Medical Sciences,
Arak, Iran. P.O. Box: 3848176941.
562
The Discoverer of Pulmonary Blood Circulation: Ibn Nafis or William Harvey?
Saeed Changizi Ashtiyani and Mohsen Shamsi
12
Department of Physiology Faculty of Paramedicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
1
Department of Public Health, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
2
Abstract: Ibn Nafis is one of the most acclaimed physicians in the 7 Hajeria century (1210 A.D.) that in addition
th
to medicine had expert ideas in syntax, logic and Islamic sciences. His theory on pulmonary blood circulation
has challenged many scientists regarding the first person who discovered pulmonary blood circulation.
In this descriptive study, an attempt was made to gain access to reliable sources for investigating various
opinions regarding the earliest discovery of pulmonary blood circulation. In so doing, through the application
of appropriate key words to library and on-line search, reliable data were gathered for answering the central
question of this study. Based on the theories of Ibn Nafis on pulmonary blood circulation, the movement of
blood initiates from the right ventricle and through pulmonary artery, it flows to the lungs. Then through
pulmonary veins it circulates back to the left ventricle. Ibn Nafis, for the first time throughout the history of
medicine, in addition to describing blood circulation, stated that blood is refined in the lungs. This idea was
proposed three centuries before William Harvey could announce its discovery. Thus the primary discoverer
of pulmonary blood circulation is Ibn Nafis and his theories have affected what has been proposed after him.
In conclusion, Noticing his precise descriptions of pulmonary blood circulation three centuries before
Harvey, Ibn Nafis can be named the primary discoverer of pulmonary blood circulation. However, Arabs and
Muslims’ insufficient attention to their scientific legacy have paved the way for some Western scientists to
name many of their invaluable and groundbreaking theories after themselves.
Key words: History of Medicine Ibn Nafis Pulmonary Blood Circulation William Harvey
INTRODUCTION In his compositions and compilations, Ibn Nafis did
Ibn Nafis, is one of the most outstanding Muslim memory. He followed this same style in his prescriptions.
physicians in the 7 Hajeria century. Born in Damascus, He tried to treat his patients through diets instead of
th
he began taking up medicine with his companion Ibn prescribing medications as much as he could. He also
Asibe, the author of the famous "the purest and preferred humble drugs to the complex ones. In addition
clearest news in classification of physicians", under to medicine, he was also active in the realm of literature.
the supervision of some of the most renowned scientists Ibn Nafis did not imitate others' style and was never a
in the field of medicine in that era, e.g. Andol Rahim Ibn mere follower. Thus references to the scientists and
Ali known as Al- Dakhwar [1, 2]. writers before him are barely seen in his books [4].
Ibn Nafis was known for his modesty, great In his practice of medicine, originality and
memorization ability and intelligence. In addition to innovation are easily observable due to his belief that
medicine, he also excelled in syntax, logic and Islamic traditional methods should be removed in order to get
sciences. In 1236 Ibn Nafis moved to Egypt and worked in free from the dominance of old time physician’ thoughts.
Al-Mansouri Hospital where he became chief of Some physicians of his time did not dare to disagree with
physicians and the sultan's personal physician [3]. the theories of famous scientists in the field of medicine
He also trained many students among whom Abolfateh such as Galen, Hippocrates and Avicenna [5]. Ibn Nafis
Iskandai, Abolfazl Benkusk and Ibn Ghaf who are the criticized many theories of these scientists and corrected
most famous ones that compiled a book in surgery. these theories. Although he admired Avicenna a lot, he
not refer to reference books and instead, relied on his
Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 18 (5): 562-568, 2013
563
stated: "in few cases, I disagree with him; however, belongs to an eminent physician of the thirteenth
I think these [mistakes] might be due to the note-takers century: Ibn Nafis. Therfore in this descriptive study, an
and editors of his books." attempt was made to gain access to reliable sources for
His Major Works Are as Follows: discovery of pulmonary blood circulation. In so doing,
Al-Shamel Fi Teb which is a medical encyclopedia. library and on-line search, reliable data were gathered
Al-Mohzeb Fi Alkahol in which all of the Islamic for answering the central question of this study:
physicians’ information in Ophthalmology has been The Discoverer of pulmonary blood circulation: Ibn Nafis
completely, but not so originally, included. or William Harvey?
Moje Al-Qanun which is an abridged version of all
sections of Ave Sina’s Al-Qanun except for RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
“the dissection and function of its parts” chapter.
This book is a summary in medicine which is Ibn Nafis'es greatest work in the field of medicine
particularly useful for physicians who practice is his theory on pulmonary blood circulation. In his
medicine. Of all his books, this one became very view, blood circulation gets started from the right
popular in the east. Moje Al-Qanun has been ventricle and through pulmonary artery, it flows to the
translated into Persian, Turkish and Hebrew. lungs. Then through pulmonary veins, the blood
A detailed elaboration on Ave Sina’s Al-Qanun circulates back to the left ventricle. This theory is the
that various editions exist to it. In this book, Ibn basis of a major section of Harvey's important discovery.
Nafis has classified the explanation of issues better In his elaboration on dissection in Ave Sina's Al-Qanun,
than Al-Qanun, especially the section related to Ibn Nafis for the first time in the history of medicine, in
anatomy which summarizes the first three sections of addition to the description of blood circulation, states
Al-Qanun in one section. In this section, Ibn Nafis that blood is refined in the lungs. In fact, this theory was
elaborates on his theory on pulmonary blood first put forward by Ibn Nafis almost three centuries
circulation. His elaboration on the fifth chapter of before its presentation by the first European scientist,
Al-Qanun was translated into Latin by Andrea Servetus.
Alpago, the renaissance researcher and physician This part of Ibn Nafis'es discovery about pulmonary
and it was published in Viennese after his death in blood circulation was first understood by the Egyptian
1547 [5-7]. physician, Mohey Al-Dam Tatavi who expressed it
In addition to the scientific aspect of his character, For a better understanding of the importance of
Ibn Nafis was a faithful and religious man. Regarding his Ibn Nafis'es discovery and further elaboration on his
profound religious belief, it suffices to note that at the theory regarding pulmonary blood circulation, first, it is
time his death was near, one of the physicians who necessary to consider the views of several great
happened to be his friend prescribed him some wine, but physicians' on the operation and function of heart briefly.
Ibn Nafis refused to drink it and said: "I do not want my "The heart acts like a pump that circulates the blood.
soul to be contaminated with wine when I face God" [8]. But from where does the blood get to the heart and what
On December 17, 1288 he died at the age of 78 after an is its destination after the heart? The ancient Greek
unknown illness [3]. physicians' primary mistake was that they just viewed
MATERIALS AND METHODS arteries in cadavers, they came to think of them as "airway
The discovery of the pulmonary circulation is an is attributed to the arteries is derived from a Greek word
interesting and debated subject. It is commonly believed meaning "airway passages." Yet, Herophilis showed that
that the discovery of the pulmonary circulation had its both veins and arteries are responsible for blood delivery.
inception in Europe in the sixteenth century by Servetus, These two meet each other in the heart and had it been
Vesalius, Colombo, then Harvey. However, in view of the revealed where they join each other outside the heart, the
discovery of ancient manuscripts, we propose that the issue of blood circulation would have been settled.
real credit for the discovery of the pulmonary circulation However, precise anatomic investigations had indicated
investigating various opinions regarding the earliest
through the application of appropriate key words to
publicly in his doctoral dissertation in 1924.
veins as transferors of blood. Observing the depletion of
passages." On the other hand, the word "Artory" which
Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 18 (5): 562-568, 2013
564
that veins and arteries are divided into narrower branches pulmonary arteries and veins. He gained this knowledge
which are, in turn, divided into such narrow veins that almost three centuries before the Italian scientists and
they cannot be seen any more" [5, 9-10]. defined it in a way that there is no place for suspicion or
Based on Galen statement, "The right heart blood is doubt. He is the discoverer of the foundation of blood
named natural spirits while the left heart blood is called circulation in veins. He explains that blood enters the
via spirits and there are major differences between these lungs and in contact with the air that lungs absorb from
two. None of these two types of blood circulates in the outside and getting mixed with it, it is refined.
body; however, with a specific, constant ebb and flow, Accordingly, Ibn Nafis, through his visual
they run in their own special zones." observations and his logic, corrected the wrong ideas
For explaining this impossible concept, Galen of Galen [11].
assumed that blood moves through the many invisible Galen relied on the old theories of blood circulation
holes that exist between the two hearts. No one had been as his guideline and based on these, he put forward his
able to observe these holes since they were not only famous theory. The two conditions are:
invisible but also absolutely non-existent. Yet, Galen, the
God of Greek medicine and nine centuries later, Veins that enter the heart are wider than those
Avicenna, the most remarkable physician in medieval that exit it.
ages, had claimed this with such certainty and faith that Rupture of the arteries leads to bleeding.
this impossible and baseless thought had been accepted He accompanies this with an important explanation
as the absolute truth. and states: "Having reached the right ventricle,
Even a genius like Da Vinci with his great creativity blood enters the left ventricle via the layer which is
and incredible innovation, who had dissected heart and between the two ventricles and passes through the
other body organs with great precision, had embraced small visible and invisible holes. There it gets mixed
such an irrational theory. with the vital air that has been transferred by the
Nevertheless, the first person who came to suspect lungs through pulmonary veins which are called
this idea of Galen and clearly refuted it, was Ibn Nafis. arterial veins. After being saturated from vital
He had investigated the anatomic studies of Avicenna qualities in the brain, the blood is distributed to all
and Galen and set to criticize them. Ibn Nafis gathered the parts of the body. Eventually, through these arterial
results of his investigations in Mojez Al-Qanun and for veins, it is sent back to the heart. In others words, the
the first time discovered the pulmonary blood circulation; blood follows an “ebb and flow” movement". By this
a discovery which placed him among the greatest expression, he implies that except for the holes
physicians of the world. Ibn Nafis describes the which are located in the walls of ventricles, the
pulmonary blood circulation in the following way: arterial system is totally independent of the system
"After refinement in the right ventricle, the blood of veins and the movement of blood from the two
must go to the left ventricle to gain a vital spirit, but there systems is done through an ebb and flow procedure
are no holes between the two ventricles since the heart from the lungs and the heart to other organs and vice
is much thicker in this part or as some have hypothesized, versa. This idea was commonly practiced as part of
there are no visible holes. Hence, after refinement, it has formal training in Europe in medieval ages up to the
to go to the lungs through pulmonary artery to spread 17th century. Leonardo Da Vinci reflected this idea in
there and get mixed with air so that the thinnest particles his famous anatomic pictures [12].
in it are refined. Then it enters the pulmonary veins so as
to transfer the blood which has been mixed with air and is Some Arab writers had a different view about this
ready the birth of spirit to the left spirit" [6, 9, 11]. theory of Galen and in their book, A summary of the
Ibn Nafis is the first person who described blood history of pharmacy and medicine among Arabs, they
circulation and referred to the air bags of the lungs. noted, "Galen proposed his theories of medicine on
Ibn Nafis repeated his explanations of pulmonary blood blood circulation based on dissection of children with
circulation five times which indicates that he had a early (premature) birth and hence, he states that there is
thorough understanding about it, one without even a a hole between the right and left ventricles. This condition
shred of doubt. Thus Ibn Nafis is the first person who existed in children with congenital abnormalities that
gained a complete understanding of the combination were unknown to Galen. Ibn Nafis, on the other hand,
of lungs and arteries which are located between the through his comprehensive theory, managed to refute
Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 18 (5): 562-568, 2013
565
Galen theory that had been widely accepted for Ibn Nafis criticized Galen theory on arterial passages
centuries. He corrected Galen mistake and put the theory
of respiratory blood circulation forward".
Avicenna completely followed the idea of Galen and
added some simple concepts that he had adopted from
the instructions of Aristotle. Unfortunately, what
Avicenna added was wrong and had already been
rejected by Galen. Among these wrong theories that
Avicenna had quoted was the idea that the heart consists
of three ventricles which is exactly in accordance with
Aristotle's idea, in that he believes that the number of
ventricles depends on the animal weight. Ibn Nafis
corrected many of the mistakes that existed in Avicenna
books, especially those related to the veins that are
connected to the heart and the lungs. He came to the
conclusion that blood is transferred from the right
ventricle to the lungs, where the blood gets mixed with the
air and then, it moves to the left ventricle. With this
theory, Ibn Nafis proved that blood is refined in the
lungs. This is, indeed, equal to the so-called pulmonary
blood circulation. This great discovery which was made
by Ibn Nafis is observable in his remarks on the
dissection of the lungs and the heart. Regarding the
dissection of the lungs, he states, "the lungs are
composed of several sections: 1) larynx antenna, 2)
areterial veins and 3) veins. The location of all these
sections is a soft, porous tissue.
Ibn Nafis was engaged in anatomy and dissection.
This can be inferred from his reputation after the
discovery of blood circulation in the lungs and also from
Sami Hadad's comments in his book, The good deeds of
Arabs in Medicine. In this regard, Ibn Nafis wrote a
commentary on the dissection chapter of Ave Sina's
Al-Qanun which was entitled The explanation of
Al-Qanun dissection. In this book, he refers to the
pulmonary blood circulation and sets to present a precise
and detailed explanation for it. Here he clarifies Galen
mistake in claiming that "blood exists the right
ventricle and enters the left ventricle through small
holes". Ibn Nafis demonstrated that blood reaches the
lungs through the right ventricle and there it gets mixed
with air. Then it leaves the lungs for the left
ventricle [12, 13].
This indicated that Ibn Nafis criticized the scientists
that came before him and proposed new ideas not based
on theoretical or philosophical arguments but based on
his practical experiences in opening up the cadavers and
dissecting them. Naturally, he could not publicize or
announce this act; therefore, he had to keep this to
himself which I think is reason enough for supporting my
claim.
existing between the right and left ventricles and wrote:
"The wall between the right and left ventricles has
invisible holes through which blood moves from one side
of the heart to the other. The lungs are responsible for
moving and shaking the upper section of the heart to
bring about a reduction in temperature in the heart which
takes away the heat from the blood and keeps it cool.
This feeds some of the small organisms through the holes
that exist between the lungs and the heart and also, feeds
the heart and the blood." Ibn Nafis is among the few
scientists that had sufficient experience and knowledge
over the criticisms that they made of the ideas that Galen
and Aviccina falsely believed in Khulusi [11].
In his book, The explanation of anatomy of Ave
Sina's Al-Qanun, Ibn Nafis states that "one who says and
of course, God knows better, that since one of the
functions of the heart is giving spirit and this is only
plausible when the blood is completely thin and mixed
with air, should know this point that very thin and mixed
with air blood should be placed in the heart so that spirit
is laid in the heart space.
The left ventricle is the place where spirit is created
and there must be another hole in the human and animal
heart connected with the lungs for the blood to get thin
and mixed with air because if air is mixed with thick blood,
an similar substance will not be obtained unless it gets
thin in the right hole of the heart.
When the blood gets thin in the right hole of the
heart, it must pass through the left hole where spirit is
generated. But there is not a hole between them because
the heart mass is tough and there are not any visible holes
as some have thought or holes that are suitable for
passing this blood as Galen states.
Delicate and microscopic holes that exist between
the two holes of the heart are very tight and the heart
mass is highly solid; therefore, when the blood gets thin,
it has to reach the lungs through arterial veins and spread
in the body of the lungs and get mixed and then refined
completely. After getting mixed with air, it enters the
artery to move to the left holes of the heart and it gets
qualified for generating the spirit" [11, 14].
George Satron in his book, An introduction to the
history of sciences, states, "Ibn Nafis was the first person
who discovered the pulmonary blood circulation which
was unknown before him. This discovery was named after
the English scientist, William Harvey (born in May 1578),
who was renowned in medicine".
In 1324, Dr. Mohey Al-Din Tatavi found an old
manuscript in which Ibn Nafis had explained his theories
Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 18 (5): 562-568, 2013
566
regarding pulmonary blood circulation at Scorial Library. written by Muslim scientists, they translate it to their
Therefore, Ibn Nafis is the first discoverer of the own language and call it their own. Naturally, there are
pulmonary blood circulation [15, 16]. those who are ready to publish these unoriginal
Michael Servetus who lived in Spain in 16000s documents. Nevertheless, what matters is this bottom
claimed to be the discoverer of pulmonary blood line reality that Ibn Nafis referred to the existence of the
circulation and many physicians in their compilations respiratory blood circulation (the minor circulation) in his
quoted this claim, but certainly, Servetus Colombus and book nearly three centuries before Europeans could come
Harvey who had described the pulmonary blood to this conclusion by the Spanish scientist, Servetus
circulation had already learned about the theories of Ibn (1553-1509), in a book named Chrtianisml Restituto
Nafis and his books which had been translated from which was so close in concept to the ideas of Ibn Nafis
Arabic to Latin. Servetus simply ignored Ibn Nafis'es that one could not help noticing the impact of his theory
remarks on this issue and claimed it to be his. Later on, he on Servetus [20].
came to be known as the one who discovered the Seril Algod in Safavid history of medicine states that
pulmonary blood circulation while the true discoverer the time when Harvey in Demotn Gordis explained blood
was Ibn Nafis. Shahda, Hadad, Bine, Herbin, Meyrhof and circulation was coincident with the middle period of
several other professors and physicians had shown this Shah Abass reign, when one of the most acclaimed
to be the truth [17]. Iranian physicians in the 10 century had referred to the
The discoveries of Ibn Nafis were made three relationship between beating (arteries) and non-beating
centuries before other European scientists; however, (veins) vessels based on the fact that when an artery is
many European Scientists claimed his discovery o be cut, all the blood in the veins also moves out. End
theirs. For instance, Servetus who lived in 1600s did refer branches of arteries are tied to vessels in the brain and
to the fact that he had used the ideas of Ibn Nafis. they come together at the mouth and are grouped in a
Many of the scientific works of Ibn Nafis had been parallel fashion [21, 22].
forsaken in libraries for several centuries and scientists in In studying the genesis of blood circulation, two
the field of medicine had not realized their real value scientists are mentioned above all: Claudius Galen
until recently [18]. (131-201) and William Harvey (1572-1659). Galen, the
The commonly held belief among the scientists symbol of old medicine, is the one who developed and
contemporary to Ibn Nafis was that blood is composed in transferred the findings of his era which modified the
the liver and is transferred to the right ventricle and, then, findings of old medicine after 1500 years. He freed himself
it is distributed in veins all over the body to feed it. from the rotten thoughts and old prejudices and is,
Another part of the blood passes through the tiny holes indeed, the founder of our current knowledge on blood
which exist between the two ventricles and enters the left circulation and vessels. On the other hand, the Italian
ventricle and there, it gets mixed with the air which comes anatomist, Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694) completed
from the lungs. This fallacy that was passed down to William Harvey's discovery through the use of
scientists was quite dominant since it had been proposed microscope and showing the relationship between
by Galen, the God of medicine. However, Ibn Nafis with arteries.
his remarkable audacity, self confidence and respect for A noteworthy issue about this book is that the
his colleagues turned away from this old fallacy and explanations and the words which are stated about Galen
theorized that the refinement of blood is done in the idea are totally compatible with the remarks and
lungs when it gets mixed with air in the course of comments of Ibn Nafis in this regard. He has even
respiration. Therefore, the blood in the right ventricle quoted some sentences from Mojez Al-Qanun, which
runs to the lungs and there it gets mixed with air and is definitely indicates that he has followed what Ibn Nafis
refined. Then it is transferred to the left ventricle [19]. has proposed. This becomes more tenuous when we
Nowadays, especially for those who are engaged in understand that Andrea Alpago is translator who was in
the history of science, it is quite clear that Western search of books in Arabic and could translate many such
scientists have seriously been trying to duplicate many of books of which only few were published in1520 and the
the scientific theories proposed by Arab and Muslim rest were probably published after 1520.
scientists and record them in their own name while we are Mohey Al-Din Tatavi, the Egyptian physician, in his
irresponsive to this issue. This act has, in fact, turned doctoral dissertation at faculty of medicine in Freiburg
into a routine that whenever they find an early extant in 1924 referred to Miguel Zorreto's imitation of Ibn
th
Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 18 (5): 562-568, 2013
567
Nafis. Nowadays, many European researchers and 9. Verma, R.L., 1969. Ibn-an-Nafis: pioneer in modern
authors, like Sarton and Max Egrhof relate the discovery
of pulmonary blood circulation to Ibn Nafis and see his
place somewhere between Galen and Harvey [18, 12].
Noticing the precise descriptions of Ibn Nafis on
pulmonary blood circulation nearly 300 years before
William Harvey, it can be stated that he was first person
who discovered this fact; however, due to Arab and
Muslims' negligence towards their scientific legacy, some
western scientists came to plagiarize many of his great
and invaluable theories and named them as theirs [23-27].
For instance, Servetus that came three centuries after
Ibn Nafis, claimed that he himself had discovered the
pulmonary blood circulation, an issue which has recently
been proven to all scientists in the field of medicine to be
belonging to Ibn Nafis. In fact, Muslim scientists have
left the earliest extant of Ibn Nafis and other scientists'
workshops in the dark corners of world libraries where
they are coated with cobweb.
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