History of Cardiology

Pulmonary circulation of the blood was first deseribed by lbn al-Naphis (1210- 1288). He disputed Galen's view that the blood passes direetly from the right to the left side, because he found no poresin the septal wall (1268). He further added that after mixing with air in the lungs, the blood returns through the pulmonary veins to the left side of the heart and forms the vital spirit. After medical studies in Damascus, he practiced as Chief of physicians in Cairo and in Nureddin Hospital, Damascus. His notes on the "Canon" were translated to Latin for the Spanish Royal Library and probably have influenced Miguel Servetus (1511-1553) who mentioned in "Christianismi restitutio" that the blood is drivcn from the right ventricle over a long course through the lungs, is made flavus and thence passes from the arterial vein into the venous artery (1553). As proof against blood's nutrition function alone, he stated that the caliber of the arterial vein would not be so large, nor carry such a big aınount of blood. A later version of the pulmonary circulation was given by Andrea Cesalpino (1524-1603) prof. of medicine and botany at the Pisa University, Italy. Thesc three scientists were honored postally and the stamps are shown in the text.