For many medieval Islamic scholars, the study of anatomy was a way of demonstrating God’s wisdom. Systematic dissection of the human anatomy, however, was not carried out. Nevertheless, there were many contributions to this field, like the description of the movement of blood through the pulmonary veins by Ibn al-Nafis (d. 1288). This manuscript is a copy of the Tashrih-i Mansuri (or 'Mansur’s Anatomy’), which was composed by 14th century physician, Mansur ibn Muhammad ibn al-Faquh Ilyas. His work, which includes full-page anatomical illustrations, was widely copied and circulated. This particular drawing shows the system of veins. Other drawings in the book show the skeletal, nervous, muscular and arterial systems.
