reinterpretations of the ankh symbol part 2 - Asar Imhotep

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Many Egyptologists understood that the anx was associated with the breath but now we know why.
The primary function of the thorax is respiration (breathing). The ribs (spr) and the diaphragm
(ntnt) 4 move so that the thoracic cavity increases and decreases in size during the inspiratory and
expiratory phases of respiration. Doctors note that the thorax probably aids in returning venous
blood back to the heart because of the negative pressure produced with respiratory movements.
This is going to be vitally important for our second interpretation of the anx symbol later on in our
discussion. The thorax also serves to protect the organs located within its cavity plus some organs
of the abdominal cavity. In other words, the thorax is our internal savior (a savior is someone or
something that protects).
THE STRUCTURE OF THE THORAX
The primary organs and structure of the thorax consist of the following:
� lungs (smA)
� heart (ib, HAty)
� aorta and its branches
� superior and inferior vena cavae
� trachea (xx)and primary bronchi
� sympathetic trunks and their associations
� azygos and hemiazygos venous systems
The bony boundaries of the thorax consist of:
� sternum
o manubrium (1)
o sternal angle (2)
o body (3)
o xiphoid process (4)
� 12 pairs of ribs
o 6 or 7 pairs of true ribs (5)
o 3 or 4 pairs of false ribs (6)
o 2 pairs of floating ribs (7)
� thoracic inlet (superiorly) (8)
� thoracic outlet (inferiorly) (9)
� thoracic vertebrae, posteriorly
4 Apparently the Egyptians knew the diaphragm was connected to breathing as the word nti “breath, air” is
related to ntnt “diaphragm.”