The anatomy of the liver in traditional medicine and comparsion with modern medicine findings
The anatomy of the liver in traditional medicine and comparsion with modern medicine findings
Shabnam Mohammadi,1,*Amir parviz Tavassoli,2
1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2. Department of Persian Medicine, Faculty of Persian and Complementary Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Introduction: Introduction: The science of anatomy is one of the important bases in both traditional and modern medicine, and a physician cannot treat diseases without knowledge the anatomy and physiology of the organ. Hakim Seyed Ismail Jorjani wrote in his book, "If a doctor does not know how to do a good dissection, he will make a lot of mistakes in diseases. The doctor must first dissection the same organs, and the combination of compound organs, the neighborhood, and the participation of each organ with the other, and the properties and he should know the action and strength of each one and know the form and organization of each one to achieve his purpose. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anatomy of the liver from the perspective of ancient medicine and compare it with modern medicine.
Methods: Method: In this descriptive-comparative study, first, authentic texts such as Akbari's Medicine, Khwarizmshahi's collection, Mansouri's Tashrih and Abdolvahab Tafreshi book have been noted. Then a comparison of the materials was made and the commonalities and differences were categorized and compared in the form of tables.
Results: Results: The descriptions include the liver location, nerves, vessels, ligaments and anatomical Adjacents. In the ancient books, the liver is dark red and its location is mentioned on the right side (right hypochondrium). Its convex side is towards the diaphragm and its concave side is the portal vein. The impressions of the liver are related to the diaphragm, colon, right kidney, fundus, and gall bladder. Ancient medicine considered the liver to be insensitive, but the membrane covering it was considered to have a lot of sensation. A branch of the descending aorta is mentioned in the book of liver descending aortae, which is in line with modern medicine. Liver ligaments include falciform ligament, coronary ligament, and triangular ligament.
Conclusion: Conclusion: The consistent of the anatomical descriptions about the liver shows the knowledge of traditional medicine physician about the science of dissection without facilities such as CT scan and MRI is excellent. In addition, the review of ancient medical texts shows that the basis of modern anatomy is the information that has reached the hands of todays years ago.