The location and shape of the liver
The liver is located in the human abdomen, under the diaphragm, and within the right side of the body. Regarding the specific shape of the liver, there are many records in classical medical books. "Difficult Classics·Forty-one Difficulties" says: "The liver has only two lobes."
As for the exact anatomical position of the liver in the human body, there has always been There is some controversy, mainly because "Su Wen·Ji Jin Lun" said: "There are vital organs that must be detected. The liver is born on the left, and the lungs are hidden on the right." In fact, what the theory of liver left and lung right here explains is The theory of the rise and fall of yin and yang in the internal organs. The ancients identified directions by standing facing south, with east on the left and west on the right. The east belongs to wood, which corresponds to the liver; the west belongs to metal, which corresponds to the lungs. In the human body, if the liver is at the bottom, its Qi will rise to be smooth; if the lungs are at the top, its Qi will fall to be harmonious. As Zhang Jingyue said: "The liver wood is strong in the east and controls hair growth, so its qi is generated on the left. The lung metal is strong in the west and controls convergence, so its qi is stored on the right."
The main physiology of the liver Function
The liver governs soothing and dispersing. The liver governs storing blood.
The liver governs dispersing and dispersing: dredging means dredging; The so-called liver governs dispersion, which generally refers to the liver's physiological functions of dredging, catharsis, and promoting hair growth. The liver governs dispersion, which actually mainly refers to the liver's important regulating role in regulating yin and yang qi and blood throughout the body, which is specifically reflected in the following aspects:
1. Regulating qi: qi, that is, the rise and fall of qi Movement in and out. The Qi that exists in the human body is in constant motion and change, and its basic forms are ascending, descending, going out, and entering. This movement of Qi maintains the normal functional activities of various organs, tissues and organs, and promotes the normal metabolism of the body. The liver's function of dredging and releasing plays a very important role in regulating the ascending, descending, incoming and outgoing movements of Qi. If the liver's function of dispersing is normal, the body's qi mechanism will be smooth, the qi and blood will be harmonious, the meridians will be smooth, and the functions of various organs, tissues and organs will be normal and coordinated. For some reason, if the physiological function of the liver in controlling dispersion is abnormal, pathological changes in these two aspects may occur.
2. Tongli Qi, blood and water: The circulation of human blood and the distribution and metabolism of body fluids also depend on the ascending, descending, incoming and outgoing movements of Qi. When qi moves, blood moves, and qi stagnation causes blood stasis; when qi moves, water moves, and when qi stagnates, water stops. The liver governs dispersion and regulates qi, so it is closely related to the movement and metabolism of blood and body fluids. If the physiological function of the liver governing the release of liver qi is normal and the qi movement is smooth, the blood and body fluids will flow smoothly; if the physiological function of the liver qi is abnormal and the qi movement is blocked, various pathological changes in the blood and body fluids may occur.
3. Promote the transportation and transformation of the spleen and stomach: The digestion and absorption of food mainly depends on the transportation and transformation functions of the spleen and stomach, but whether the lifting and lifting movements of the spleen and stomach are coordinated and balanced depends on the function of the liver. Is the catharsis function normal? Generally speaking, the impact of the liver on the transportation and transformation functions of the spleen and stomach has the following two aspects:
First, it promotes the rise and fall of the spleen and stomach.
The second is to secrete bile to aid digestion.
4. Adjust emotions: Emotional activities are an integral part of human spirit, consciousness and thinking activities. They are originally controlled by the heart, but are also closely related to the liver's catharsis function. This is because people’s emotional activities are based on Qi and blood, and the normal operation of Qi and blood is also regulated by the function of liver Qi. If the liver qi is not dispersed properly, the qi movement is not coordinated, and the qi and blood are not harmonious, it may cause abnormal changes in emotions. Mainly manifested in two aspects: excitement of liver qi and depression of liver qi. This is the effect of the liver's catharsis function on emotions. On the contrary, repeated and long-lasting emotional abnormalities will also affect the liver's function of dispersion and release, leading to pathological changes such as stagnation of liver qi or excessive rise and release.
In addition, women’s ovulation and menstrual cramps, and men’s semen ejaculation are also closely related to the function of releasing liver qi.
The liver is in the will, liquid, body and orifices
The liver is in the will, the liver is in the liquid, and the liver is in the body and the tendons, and its flowers are in the claws and the liver is in the orifices. For the eyes
When the liver is in the will, it is anger: When the liver is in the will, it is anger. Anger is a strong emotional reaction when people are stimulated by the outside world, and it is a bad emotional stimulus. Anger has the closest relationship with the liver, so the liver is said to "be angry when it is determined". On the one hand, anger can damage the liver, leading to abnormal catharsis, excessive liver qi, and blood surging with the qi. The face and eyes may be red, and the mind may be upset and irritable. In some cases, vomiting blood, epistaxis, sudden fainting, and unconsciousness may be seen. On the other hand, liver failure can also lead to emotional disorders, manifested as emotional instability, irritability and irritability. For example, "Su Wen·Ju Pain Lun" says: "Anger causes Qi to be reversed, even vomiting blood and diarrhea, so Qi rises." "Su Wen·Zang Qi Fa Shi Lun" also says: "People with liver disease... make people... Good at anger. "
Physiological characteristics of the liver
1. The liver is a strong organ, and its Qi is prone to hyperactivity and reversal: "Gang" here means strong and impatient. The ancients compared the liver to the officer of a general, representing anger in ambition. The liver is also the internal organ of wind and wood. The body is yin and uses yang, and its qi mainly rises and takes the initiative. The so-called "body yin" means that firstly, the liver is one of the five internal organs. It is located in the lower body of the human body together with the kidneys, so it belongs to yin. Secondly, the liver is an organ that stores yin blood. The so-called "using yang" means that the liver is the internal organ of wind and wood. It responds to the qi of spring, and its qi mainly rises and takes the initiative. Because physiologically the liver controls ascending and taking the initiative, pathologically, liver qi is easily reversible and liver yang is easily overactive. Clinical manifestations of liver disease are often dizziness, dizziness, headache, or even convulsions, signs of hyperactivity of liver qi. Because liver qi is prone to hyperactivity, the predecessors had the theory of "liver deficiency syndrome". Although this is somewhat biased, it also reflects the physiological and pathological characteristics of the liver.
2. Liver nature likes to be prosperous but hates depression: The liver belongs to wood and responds to the spring energy of nature. It should be soft, comfortable, uplifted and prosperous, and neither depressed nor excited. , in order to maintain normal catharsis function, so emotional stimulation such as anger and incomprehensible thoughts are most likely to affect the liver's catharsis function. Anger can cause excessive liver qi, causing symptoms such as flushed face and eyes, bloated head, headache, irritability and irritability. Excessive thinking can lead to stagnation of liver qi, causing depression, suspicion, and even sadness and crying.
3. The liver corresponds to spring qi: man and heaven and earth are connected, and the five internal organs are connected to the yin and yang of the four seasons in nature. Then the liver responds to spring qi, and everything revives and thrives in spring, which is conducive to the rise and regulation of liver qi. smooth. However, if the spring weather in nature is too strong, it may have an adverse effect on the liver.