A study of Nutrient Qi(營氣) and Defense Qi(衛氣) from the modern perspective of Visceral body and Somatic body

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to modernize Nutrient Qi(營氣) and Defense Qi(衛氣) from the point of view of Visceral Body and Somatic Body.Methods: Investigate the areas of body and function of Nutrient Qi(營氣) and Defense Qi(衛氣) recorded in the 『HuangdiNeijing(黃帝內經)』 and 『Dongeuibogam(東醫寶鑑)』. And investigate Visceral Body and Somatic Body that anatomical structure is divided according to function based on the book 『Life and Rhythm』.Results: Nutrient Qi(營氣) works to nourish the body such as viscera and bowels in the meridian. Defense Qi(衛氣) works to protect the body such as skin, limb joint, eye outside the meridian. The human body is divided into Visceral Body called a vegetable organ and Somatic Body called an animal organ. Visceral body is the organ that manages “nutrition-reproductive” and is divided into the intestine(腸管), blood vessels(血管), and the nephridium(腎管). Somatic Body is an organ that manages ‘sensory-motion’ and is divided into a three-layer structure: the outer layer covering the body surface, the nerve layer connecting the outer layer and the muscle layer, and the muscle layer controling contraction and movement.Conclusions: It is estimated that Nutrient Qi(營氣) is similar to Visceral Body, and Defense Qi(衛氣) is similar to Somatic Body.