Chapter Three
The Theory of Viscera-state

In ancient China , the doctors observed the characters and appearances of the zang-organs and fu-organs by object . But , because China was fettered by the feudal ethical code for a long time , anatomy in Sinomedicine did not be developed further . The theory of viscera-state in Sinomedicine was developed and formed on the basis of coarse material of anatomy and summarization of the clinic observational experience , and the practical experience of acupuncture , moxibustion , and Qigong .

The content of viscera-state includes five zang-organs , six fu-organs , peculiar fu-organs , essence of life , spirit , vital energy ( qi ) , blood , thick and thin body fluid ( jinye ) ; as well as the relation of the tissues such as skin , muscle , tendon , bone and vessel , as well as the organs such as mouth , eye , ear , nose and tongue with the zang-organs and fu-organs .

1.Five Zang-organs

The heart is located in the chest,and it is enclosed and protected by the peri- cardium .

(1).Physiological Functions of the Heart

A.The heart controls mental and emotional activities .
B.The heart controls blood circulation .
C.The heart takes change of perspiration .

(2).The Relation of the Heart with Sense Organ and Other Tissue

A.The tongue is the orifice to the heart.
B.The complexion reflects the condition of the heart.

[2].The Lung

The lung is located in the chest and connects upward with the throat . The nose is the orifice to the lung . The characters of the lung are good at activiting the flow of vital energy and keeping pure and descendant .

(1).Physiological Functions of the Lung

A.The lung controls qi ( vital energy and air ) , and it takes charge of respiration and converges blood flow of whole body.
(A).The lung controls qi ( vital energy and air ) of respiration.
(B).The lung controls qi ( vital energy and air ) of whole body.
B.The lung takes charge of dredging water passages.

(2).The Relation of the Lung with Sense Organ and Other Tissue

A.The lung relates to skin and hair , and its essence is reflected on the skin .
B.The nose is the orifice to the lung.

[3].The Spleen

The spleen is located in the middle warmer . Its characteristics are liking dryness and disliking wetness . It is called " acquired basis of human body " .

(1).Physiological Functions of the Spleen

A. The spleen is responsible for transport and conversion .
(A). The spleen transports and converts essential substances from water and cereals .
(B). The spleen transports and converts water and wetness-evil .
B. The spleen governs blood .
C. The spleen exerts an effect on transporting essential substances ascendingly.

(2).The Relation of the Spleen with Sense Organ and Other Tissue

A. The spleen is responsible for growth of the muscles and activity of the limbs.
B. The mouth is the orifice to the spleen,and physiological state of the spleen is reflected on the lips.

[4].The Liver

The liver is located in the right hypochondrium , it is a rigid zang-organ , and this organ likes fluency.

(1).Physiological Functions of the Liver

A. The liver stores blood.
B. The liver bears the effect of dispersion.
(A). The liver exerts the function of regulating metal and emotional activities.
(B). The liver exerts the function of dredging the passages of vital energy and blood.
(C). The liver exerts the function of promoting secretion and excretion of bile and assisting digestion of the spleen and stomach.

(2).The Relation of the Liver with Sense Organ and Other Tissue

A. The liver controls the activity of the tendon and ligament , and the movement of the body , the nails reflect state of essence in the liver.
B. The eye is the orifice to the liver.

(3). " Yin Substance and Yang Use " of the liver

Substance refers to the structure of an organ , and use refers to the function of an organ . The structure of the liver belongs to yin , while the function of the liver belongs to yang .

[5].The Kidney

The kidneys are located in the loins , one on either side .

(1).Physiological Functions of the Kidney

A. The kidney stores the essence of life , and it controls growth and reproduction.
B. The kidney controls water metabolism.
C. The kidney regulates inspiration.

(2). The Relation of the Kidney with Sense Organ and Other Tissue

A. The kidney controls the bones , produces the bone marrow , and connects with the brain .
B. The ears , as well as the external genitals and anus are the orifices to the kidney.
C.The essence of the kidney is reflected on the hair.

2.Six Fu-organs

The gallbladder attaches to the liver . They connect closely . The gallbladder is one of the six fu-organs , and it is classified into " peculiar fu-organs " .

Physiological Functions of the Gallbladder

A.The gallbladder stores and excretes bile
B.The gallbladder controls the power of decision

[2].The Stomach

The stomach is located below the diaphragm . It connects upwardly with the esophagus and downwardly with the small intestine . The part of its upper opening is the cardia , that is , the upper wan ; the part of its lower opening is the pylorus , that is , the lower wan ; the part between the upper wan and lower wan is the middle wan .The three parts are called by a joint name as stomach wan .

Physiological Functions of the Stomach

A.The stomach controls receiving,holding and digesting of food.
B.The stomach serves to transport the digested food downward.
C.The stomach likes wetness,but hates dryness.

[3].The Small Intestine

The small intestine is located in the abdominal cavity . Its upper end connects with the stomach through the pylorus , and its lower end connects with the large intestine through the blocking gate ( ileocecal region ) .

Physiological Functions of the Small Intestine

The small intestine performs the functions of receiving , transforming and absorbing food content , and the function of separating clarity from turbidity .

[4].The Large Intestine

The upper end of the large intestine connects with the small intestine , and the lower end of that connects with the anus .

Physiological Functions of the Large Intestine

The large intestine performs the functions of passing and eliminating waste.

[5].The Urinary Bladder

The urinary bladder is located in the lower abdomen , and its lower opening connects with the urethra .

Physiological Functions of the Urinary Bladder

The urinary bladder performs the functions of storing and excreting urine.

[6].The Triple Warmer

The triple warmer is the largest fu-organ in the periphery of zang-organs and fu-organs , and it is called extra fu-organ , or solitary fu-organ as well . The triple warmer performs the functions of taking charge of various qi ( vital energy ) and dredging water passages.

Physiological Functions of the Triple Warmer

The warmer means fire and heat . The upper warmer takes charge of activating the flow of vital energy , blood and body fluid ; the middle warmer takes charge of transporting and transforming food essence ; the lower warmer takes charge of separating clear fluid from turbid fluid and controlling the outlet .

3.Peculiar Fu-organs

4.The Relation between Zang-organs and Fu-organs

The spleen channel of foot taiyin and the stomach channel of foot yangming link each other , forming relation of superficies and interior .

[2].The Lung and the Large Intestine

The lung channel of hand taiyin and the large intestine channel of hand yangming link each other , forming relation of superficies and interior.

[3].The Liver and the Gallbladder

The gallbladder attaches to the lobes of the liver and connects with the liver , the liver channel of foot jueyin and the gallbladder channel of foot shaoyang link each other , forming relation of superficies and interior.

[4].The Heart and the Small Intestine

The heart channel of hand shaoyin and the small intestine channel of hand taiyang link each other , forming relation of superficies and interior.

[5].The Kidney and the Urinary Bladder

The kidney channel of foot shaoyin and the urinary bladder channel of foot taiyang link each other , forming relation of superficies and interior.

5.Essence of Life , Spirit , Qi ( Vital Energy ) , Blood , and Jinje ( Body Fluid )

Essence of life is the basic substances constituting human body and maintaining life activities . Essence of life can be divided into congenital essential substance and acquired essential substance according to its origin.

Congenital essential substance is a substance with reproductive power . Acquired essential substance is a nutritive substance converted from water and cereals .

(1).Function of the Essence of Life

A.Promoting Growth and Development , and Reproducing Offspring
B.Resisting Exogenous Evils

[2].Spirit

" Plain Question . on Regulation of Channels " point out : " The heart stores spirit " . This refers to the functions of the higher nervous centers , including activities of consciousness and thinking . " Miraculous Pivot . on Taking Spirit as Basis " point out : " Therefore , the substance of origin of life is called essence of life , the substance formed by mixing of two kinds of essence of life is called spirit . " This refers to the states of life activities showing after the formation of fertilized ovum . " Miraculous Pivot . on Fasting of Ordinary Persons " points out : " Spirit is the essential substance from water and cereals . " The states of life activities in human body need be maintained by nutritive materials . In a word , spirit is incarnated in two aspects . One is the functions of the higher nervous centers , and the other is the states of life activities of human body . The states of life activities of human body are realized by exchange of substance and energy with the external world under the regulation of the nervous system . Therefore , spirit relates mainly to the functions of the nervous system .

[3].Qi(Vital Energy)

Qi has two meanings . One refers to the essential substance flowing in the body and its functions , it being the basic substance maintaining life activities of human body . The other refers to the functional states of the viscera and tissues under the controlling of the vegetative nervous system . According to origin , there are mainly five kinds of qi in human body--yuan ( primordial energy ) , zongqi ( initial energy ) , yingqi ( nutritional energy ) , weiqi ( defending energy ) and visceral qi ( vital energy of zang-organs and fu-organs).

(1).Geneses and Functions of Qi

A.Primordial Energy
Primordial energy includes vital energies of original yin and original yang . It is endowed with in the innateness , and it is nourished and created in the postnatal period and converted from congenital essential substance .

It originates in the kidney ( including the gate of life ) , it is stored in dantian ( the site three cun below the navel ) , and it reaches whole body through the passages of the triple warmer and pushes forward the activities of five zang-organs , six fu-organs and all the organs and tissues , it being the source of generation and conversion of the power.

B.Initial Energy
Initial energy is formed by mixing the nutritional energy and defending energy which are generated and converted by the essential substance from water and cereals with the inspired air . It is accumulated in the chest , being starting point of movement and transportation of vital energy in the whole body.

C.Nutritional Energy
Nutritional energy is essential energy nourishing and transporting in the vessels . It is generated from water and cereals . It originates from the spleen and stomach , goes out of the middle warmer , and performs the functions of converting and generating the blood and nourishing the whole body.

D.Defending Energy
Defending energy is a kind of yang vital energy. It is generated from water and cereals . It originates from the spleen and stomach , goes out of the upper warmer , travels in the outside of the vessels , has vigorous and brave character , and moves rapidly and fluently . It performs the functions of warming and nourishing the inside and outside of body , defending body surface , resisting exogenous evils , nourishing subcutaneous connective tissue , and opening and closing sweat gland ducts .

E.Vital Energy of Zang-organs and Fu-organs
It generally refers to the functions of the sympathetic system which supply the relevant organs . These have been discussed in the preceding sections . Stomach vital energy may relate pulse condition through the sympathetic system.

[4].Blood

Blood is a red fluid which flows in the vessels . Movement of blood relates closely to the heart , liver and spleen.

[5]. Jinje (Body Fluid )