Chapter 29 Section 5 Research on Embryo and Growth and Development

The book "Guanzi" written more than 2,000 years ago tried to explain the process of human embryonic development. "Pipe · Water and Land": People, water also.The essence of men and women is combined and the water is manifold.March is like (and) chewing (maggots), acid governs the spleen, salt governs the lungs, pungent governs the kidneys, and bitter governs the heart; the five organs are already present and then the five internal organs (meat) will be born.The spleen generates the septum (diaphragm), the lung generates the bone (stomach), the kidney generates the brain, the liver generates the leather (bone), the heart generates the flesh, the five internal organs are formed, and then develop into the five orifices, and the lungs develop into orifices, formed in May, October And born.

From the perspective of current embryology, it is obviously very superficial to understand embryonic development in this way.However, more than 2,000 years ago, "Guan Zi" regarded water as an important factor in the composition of embryos and the promotion of embryo development, which is commendable.In the Han Dynasty "Huainanzi·Spiritual Training", the embryo is described in more detail: When a person is born, he first becomes refined, and when he becomes refined, his brain grows.The bone is the dry, the veins are the camp, the tendons are the rigidity, the flesh is the wall, the skin is firm and the hair is long, the grain enters the stomach, the veins are connected, and the blood and qi flow.

Chao Yuanfang of the Sui Dynasty said in "On the Origin and Symptoms of Various Diseases": In the first month of pregnancy, it is called the beginning of shape... At the fourth month, the six internal organs of the child are harvested; at the fifth month, the four limbs are all formed...; The child's fur is complete; in August, the child's mouth is complete... Apparently this is based on actual observations. In ancient my country, the research on human growth and development after birth can also be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago. "Su Wen · Ancient Innocence Theory" says that according to normal growth and development: when a girl reaches the age of seven, her kidney qi is full, her teeth begin to change, and her hair grows long.At the age of 14, the sexual development is mature, the conception channel is unblocked, the chong channel is vigorous, menstruation is regular, and the body is already fertile.At the age of 21, the kidney qi is peaceful, the real teeth (referring to wisdom teeth) grow, and the height is basically long enough.At the age of 28, the muscles and bones are strong, the hair grows to the extreme, and the body is very strong.At the age of 35, the Yangming meridian weakens, the face begins to burn, and the hair begins to fall out.At the age of 42, the three yang meridians are all weakened, the face is haggard, menstruation is cut off, the body is aging, and there is no fertility anymore.When a boy is eight years old, his kidney energy is strong, his hair grows long, and his teeth start to grow.At the age of 16, the sexual development is mature, the energy is full, and a man and a woman have sex, and there will be a child.At the age of 24, the kidney qi is balanced, the muscles and bones are strong, the wisdom teeth grow, and the body grows tall.At the age of 32, the muscles and bones are thick and the muscles are full.At the age of 40, the kidney qi declines, the hair begins to fall out, and the teeth start to dry out.At the age of 48, the Yangming meridian in the upper part of the body is exhausted, the complexion is haggard, and the temples turn white.At the age of 56, the Liver Qi is weakened, the tendons are sluggish, and the movements of the hands and feet are not effective.At the age of 64, the energy is weak, the kidneys are weakened, the hair and teeth are falling out, the muscles and bones are weak, the sky is exhausted, the body is heavy, the walking is not straight, and there is no fertility.This shows that ancient my country attached great importance to the investigation and research on the growth and development of men and women, and achieved good results.These analyzes of the different manifestations of different stages of human growth and development and their internal causes still have important reference value for our in-depth exploration of the changing laws of human growth and development.