Importance The recognition of the pulmonary circulation is a complex evolution in medical history and draws on theories across eras and cultures.

Observations This narrative review summarizes evidence suggesting that the recognition of pulmonary circulation is older than the time of Ibn Nafis. The theory of pulmonary circulation originated in ancient Persia (ad 224-637), was overshadowed by Greek theory from the 11th century, and reestablished by Ibn Nafis in the 13th century.

Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this review may help contextualize the story of the discovery of pulmonary circulation in ancient Persian and Greek theories before Ibn Nafis.

重要性 对肺循环的认识是医学史上的一个复杂演变，并借鉴了跨时代和文化的理论。

观察 这篇叙述性综述总结了表明肺循环的认识比 Ibn Nafis 时代更早的证据。肺循环理论起源于古波斯（公元224-637年），11 世纪被希腊理论所掩盖，13 世纪由伊本·纳菲斯（Ibn Nafis）重新确立。

结论和相关性 本综述的结果可能有助于将 Ibn Nafis 之前古代波斯和希腊理论中肺循环发现的故事背景化。