Cardiovascular medicine. Islamic heritage: concepts and contributions.

Ibn Cena (1020 A.D.) described the anatomy of the human heart, ascending aorta and the inferior vein, and postulated anastomoses of the arteries with the veins in the extremeties to keep. the blood in circulation and suggested the presence Qf interatrial communication during the earlier stages of life. Abu Sahl Masihi (1027 A.D., elucidated the vena caval drainage into the right ventricle and the presence of the semilunar valves in the aorta. Ali Husain Gilani (1048 A.D.) reported on the presence of 11 cardiac valve cusps. Alauddin Qarshi Ibn An-Nafis (1200 A.D.) highlighted the pulmonary circulation, at least three centuries ahead of its recognition in the Europe, and reported its function of ‘purification’ (oxygenation) of blood. Ibn Cena’s al-Adwiyat al-Qalbia included several effective drugs for cardiovascular diseases, such as sumbul (N. Jatamansi), which has been proven to be an effective anti.hypertensive agent. Several investigators from Arabian countries and the Indian subcontinent have since continued their persuit and have published pioneering data on the efficacies of reserpine (anti.hypertensive), ajmaline (antidysrrhythmic), peruvoside (anti-failure), phyllemblin (adrenergic) and calophyliolide (anti-thromboe. mbolic). These concepts and contributions constitute a major segment of the historical profile of cardio. vascular medicine, and the published monographs from some of the Muslim scholars are living monuments of their contribution to modern cardiology. (JPMA 35 : 288, 1985).