ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes cardiovascular medicine in ancient Egypt, including aspects of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical issues, and paleopathology. The cardiovascular aspects are extracted from the Ebers Papyrus #854 and #856 and the Berlin Papyrus #163. The ancient Egyptians knew the heart and the vessels. The physicians and the embalmers knew the heart’s position. The earliest description of cyanosis, a cardinal clinical sign of congenital heart disease, was given by the ancient Egyptians. Enlarged liver with marked congestion was described, probably Egyptian hepatosplenomegaly due to schistosomiasis. The Egyptians recognized the heart as the center of the vascular system and believed it to be connected with other organs of the body by a system of 24—36 vessels extending down to the little fingers – hence the custom of dipping the little fingers during the ceremony of initiation.
