食管解剖与功能认识的中医源流探析

Exploration of the Origins of Chinese Medicine in Esophageal Anatomy and Functional Understanding

食管,中医称其为水谷之道路,从汉代至今两千余年以来,中医对其解剖与功能的认识也逐渐深入,可分为文字描述时期、图谱绘制时期、中西汇通时期三个阶段。文字描述时期,《黄帝内经》《难经》记载了食管的长度与功能,但较为简略;图谱绘制时期,绘制了食管的解剖图谱,细化了对食管解剖与功能的描述;中西汇通时期,西方解剖学的传入使中医重新认识了食管的解剖与功能,并出现了食管相关疾病的诊疗医案,中医对食管的生理病理及解剖、功能的认识逐渐完善。选择食管作为观察中医脏腑学说的切入点,旨在说明中医对生命、健康和疾病的认识,既基于对脏腑解剖功能的观察并不断完善,同时又对生理功能进行系统整合,形成了具有功能态的高度集成系统,以便于运用天然药物进行调整治疗,这是有别于西方医学的鲜明特色,并能与时俱进地吸纳现代研究成果,不断完善理论和治疗体系,从而获取强大的生命力,造福于人类。

The esophagus is referred to as the conduit for food and drink.It can be categorized into three distinct phases:an era characterized by written descriptions,a phase marked by anatomical illustrations,and a period of integration between Chinese and Western medical practices.In the initial phase of written descriptions,seminal texts such as The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic and The Classic of Difficult Issues documented aspects regarding both length and function of the esophagus;however,these accounts were relatively succinct.The subsequent phase saw advancements in anatomical illustrations that refined our comprehension of esophageal structure and functionality.During the period of the integration of Chinese and Western medicine,insights from Western anatomy prompted a reevaluation within Chinese medicine concerning both anatomy and physiology related to the esophagus;concurrently,clinical cases involving esophageal disorders emerged prominently.Consequently,Chinese medicine’s grasp on esophageal physiology,pathology,anatomy,and function became increasingly comprehensive over time.Choosing the esophagus as the starting point for observing the theory of viscera in Chinese medicine is intended to illustrate that Chinese medicine’s understanding of life,health and disease is based on the observation and continuous improvement of the anatomical functions of the viscera,integrating the physiological functions to form a highly integrated system with functional states,so as to facilitate the use of natural medicines for regulation and treatment.This is a distinctive feature different from Western medicine,and it can keep pace with the times and absorb modern research results,and continuously improve the theory and treatment system,so as to obtain strong vitality and benefit mankind.