A review on the Avicenna's contribution to the field of cardiology

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Highlights

  • We tried to clarify Avicenna's contribution in to the field of cardiology.

  • Avicenna had findings in cardiovascular anatomy.

  • Avicenna had 2 special books on cardiology as well as special chapters on cardiology in his general medical books.

  • Avicenna had many innovations and findings in treating cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract

The cardiology and field of cardiovascular approaches are often mentioned as of the earliest concerns throughout the history of mankind civilization. During the golden ages of Islamic era, 9th to 12th centuries A.D., medical knowledge from various fields including cardiology was flourished by prominent Persian physicians and scholars. Among those outstanding physicians and scientists of the Islamic golden era, Avicenna is known as a famous and pioneer character. To outline the cardiovascular knowledge and contribution of Avicenna, current review compiled all his evidence-based concepts of cardiovascular findings from current medical literatures as well as those mentioned in his important medical encyclopedia, the Canon of Medicine. In this review, Avicenna's findings on cardiovascular anatomy such as his description of Willis circle, capillary circulation and arterial and ventricular contractions in the cardiovascular system have been mentioned. Also, his books and manuscripts on cardiology as well as findings and theories on cardiovascular and allied diseases were discussed. These findings are included in his descriptions on cardiac tamponade, stroke, palpitation, atherosclerosis, hypertension, association of the cardiovascular complications with erection and ejaculation, interaction between the heart and emotions as well as some of his mentioned drugs for cardiological disorders and the early concepts of drug targeting. These results can show Avicenna's great contribution to improve the sciences of cardiology in early medieval era.

Introduction

The history of medical sciences dates back to the beginning of the human life [1]. The cardiology and field of cardiovascular approaches are often mentioned as one of the earliest concerns throughout the history of mankind civilization. Founded paintings of the heart in Spain (Pindal era) and France (Niaux cave) have been originated from 10,000 years ago. In ancient civilizations, the heart was not only a biological and medical organ, but the center of emotion and spiritual forces [2].

Persian scholars from ancient Persia, as a great civilization in western Asia (from the beginning of history to 637 A.D.), have made scientific contributions to the field of cardiology. A very early evidence of preliminary description of pulmonary circulation from Sassanid era (the last ancient Persian Empire; 224–637 A.D.) is a sample of this contribution. Ancient Persian practitioners believed that infection can spread in the body via blood circulation and used clean bandage in injuries, unlike Greeks that used any dirty dressing [3]. During the golden ages of Islamic era, 9th to 12th centuries A.D., medicine from various fields including cardiology were flourished by prominent Persian physicians and scholars [4], [5], [6]. Among those outstanding physicians and scientists of the Islamic golden era, Avicenna (Fig. 1) is known as a famous and pioneer character. He is often spoken as a scientist who has developed the medical knowledge of the medieval epoch [7].

To outline the cardiovascular knowledge and contribution of Avicenna, current review compiled all Avicenna's evidence-based concepts of cardiovascular findings in current medical literatures as well as those mentioned in his important medical encyclopedia, the Canon of Medicine.

Section snippets

Avicenna's biography

Ibn Sina, called Avicenna in West, was born in Afshaneh, a city in northeast of old Persia in 980 A.D. His father, Abdollah, was a local governor and Setareh was the name of his mother [7], [8]. Avicenna showed his intelligence when he was only a child. He finished learning Persian literatures as well as Quran when he was 10 years old. Then, he started learning philosophy and medicine and became a famous physician at 18 years old. In that age, he gained a special opportunity to use and access

Avicenna's view on cardiovascular anatomy

Avicenna stated that the heart is responsible for adhering heat in the whole body. He also remarked that the left side of the heart is an origin for arteries and veins which have been raised from the liver [11]. As Avicenna has mostly considered the philosophy in the medical concepts, he served less attention to the anatomy compared to other medical fields. Although Avicenna described the whole human anatomy in his great medical encyclopedia, the Canon of Medicine (Fig. 3), but he mostly

Avicenna's works in the field of cardiology

During his fruitful life, he authored almost 450 books and treatises on astronomy, logic, philosophy, and medicine. Among those contributions, the Canon of Medicine (al-Qānūn fī al-Tibb) is often spoken as a medical encyclopedia written in 5 comprehensive volumes [4]. The first volume involves four chapters on the four essential elements (earth, air, fire, and water) and related humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile), anatomy, etiology, sign and symptoms, health and sickness,

Avicenna's findings on cardiovascular and allied diseases

In the third volume of the Canon of Medicine, Avicenna described various cardiovascular conditions and ailments. According to Avicenna's concepts, the innate body heat originated from the heart and thus factors affecting the mentioned heat might lead to the cardiac weakness and diseases. In the diagnostic approaches, he mentioned that pulse, respiratory rate, patient's cardiac dimensions as well as psychological conditions should be considered in taking the history and examination of the heart

Conclusion

This study shows some of the Avicenna's findings and innovations in the field of cardiology. These results are based on a review on current investigations about Avicenna's view points on cardiology and his further contributions could be clarified in future studies. Avicenna had a great contribution in the field of cardiology and many of the current well known concepts originated from his standpoints. Avicenna was a scientist who raised cardiology in the early medieval era. His contribution was

Conflict of interest

The authors report no relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest.

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