Ibn Al-Nafis was a 13th-century Arab physician and scholar, best known for his discovery of the pulmonary circulation of blood. He was born in Damascus and later worked in Cairo, where he contributed significantly to medical knowledge through his writings, including the influential medical encyclopedia, Kitab al-Shamil. In addition to his work in medicine, Ibn Al-Nafis was also a notable figure in Islamic philosophy and literature. His ideas challenged the prevailing medical theories of his time, particularly those of Galen, and laid the groundwork for future advancements in anatomy and physiology.