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Scientific Qi Exploration 气 的 科 学 探 讨
The Extraordinary Fu Organs
(Qi Heng Zhe Fu) Part 1 of 2
By Marty Eisen Ph.D.
Introduction
Chapter 27 of Simple Questions states that Marrow
(Sui), Brain (Danao) , Bones (Gu), Blood Vessels
(Mai), Uterus (Zigong) and Gallbladder (Dan)
all store Yin Essences but have the shape (hollow) of
a Yang Organ. They store the Essence but do not
excrete. Therefore, they are called Extraordinary
Yang Organs (1, 2, 3).
The common characteristics of these organs are
that they store some form of yin essence (Kidney
Essence, Marrow or Blood) and they are all functionally,
directly or indirectly, related to the Kidneys.
The Chinese medical concepts of the Extraordinary
Organs will be discussed as well as their Western
medical counterparts. Western organs are described
by their pure morphological or substantial
structure. Their function is obtained through the
anatomic analysis of the organs. On the other hand,
the Chinese Organs are described by concepts
formed by centuries of observation of various functions
of the body, external manifestations, the interrelation
between the organs, connection with environment
and vital substances. Each Chinese organ is
defined by a non-overlapping set of physiological,
mental and spiritual functions. For example, the
Blood Vessels contain Blood; the Heart controls
Blood and Houses the Mind.
The interested reader could do further research to
relate exactly which parts of western organs correspond
to the Chinese Organ function (4). For example,
parts of the cerebral cortex function like the
Heart (Mind). The free, smooth flow of Qi, controlled
by the Liver, is required for smooth movements,
which is a function of the cerebellum, discussed
below.
1. Marrow (Sui)
Kidney Essence produces Marrow which fills
and nourishes the Brain and spinal cord and forms
the Bone Marrow. Chapter 17 in Simple Questions
states that the Bones are the residence of Marrow
and Chapter 34 says that if the Kidneys are deficient,
Marrow cannot be abundant.
Western Concepts of Marrow
In western medicine the term marrow refers to
soft, gelatinous tissues that fill the cavities of bones.
There are two types of bone marrow: red marrow
(medulla ossium rubra), consisting mainly of hematopoietic
tissue, and yellow marrow (medulla ossium
flava), comprised mainly of fat cells. Both types of
bone marrow contain numerous blood vessels and
capillaries.
Red blood cells, platelets, stem cells and most
white blood cells originate in red marrow. At birth,
all bone marrow is red. With age, more and more
marrow is converted to the yellow type; only about
half of adult bone marrow is red. Red marrow is
found mainly in the flat bones, such as the pelvis,
sternum, cranium, ribs, vertebrae and scapulae, and
in the cancellous ("spongy") material at the epiphyseal
ends of long bones such as the femur and humerus.
The red bone marrow is a key element of the
lymphatic system. Hematopoietic precursors from
the bone-marrow, called thymocytes, mature into T-
cells in the thymus gland. Once mature, T-cells emigrate
from the thymus and constitute the peripheral
T-cells of the adaptive immune system.
Yellow marrow is found in the medullary cavity,
September—October 2012 Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) 19