Kidney and Spleen Function Quiz

Zang Organs (Part II)

• Topics covered: Spleen, Kidneys, Pericardium

The Spleen

• Primary Functions:
  • Transformation and transportation
  • Controls ascending Qi
  • Controls Blood
• Other Functions:
  • Controls muscles and four limbs
  • Opens into the mouth and manifests in the lips
  • Controls saliva
  • Controls raising of Qi
  • Houses the Intellect (Yi)
  • Affected by pensiveness
• Relationships:
  • Smell: fragrant
  • Colour: yellow
  • Taste: sweet
  • Climate: damp
  • Sound: singing

The Spleen and Pancreas

• Chinese medical texts often group spleen function with pancreas functions related to digestion
• The Classic of Difficulties describes the spleen as weighing 2 pounds and 3 ounces, 3 inches wide, 5 inches long, and having ½ a pound of fatty tissue around it.

The Spleen—Functions: Transformation and Transportation

• The spleen transforms food essences, Qi, and fluids
• Separates usable from unusable food parts
• Directs usable Qi to the Lungs and combined with air to form Zong Qi
• Directs usable Qi to the Heart and combines with air to form Blood
• Transformation and transportation of food essences is essential for digestion and Qi & Blood production
• Healthy Spleen: good appetite, proper digestion, normal absorption, and regular bowel movements
• Impaired Spleen: poor appetite, digestion problems, abdominal distension, and loose stools

The Spleen—Functions: Fluids

• Spleen-Qi ascending linked to the notion of "clear" (clear part of food essence and Qi goes to the Lungs)
• Dampness, phlegm, or edema develop if Spleen Qi fails to ascend (affecting fluid transformation)
• Swollen tongue with tooth marks is a sign of Spleen Qi deficiency with Dampness or phlegm retention

The Spleen—Functions: Controls the Ascending of Qi

• Qi, food essences, and fluids ascend to the Lungs
• Ascending of Spleen-Qi is coordinated with descending Stomach Qi (essential for proper digestion)
• Clear Yang ascends to upper orifices and Turbid Yin descends to lower orifices
• Spleen-Qi "lifts" internal organs; Spleen-Qi sinking = prolapse

The Spleen—Functions: Controls the Blood

• Closely linked to Spleen's ascending function (failure of Spleen-Qi leads to blood not correctly held in vessels = bleeding)
• Makes Blood from Gu Qi
• Spleen-Qi deficiency causes Blood to spill from vessels (hemorrhage)
• Usually causes bleeding from uterus, bladder, or intestines

The Spleen—Other Functions

• Controls Muscles and Limbs: Transports food essences to muscles, especially in the four limbs.
• Mouth and Taste: Controls mouth function and taste.
• Lips: Directly influences the lips; indicating spleen health (rosy and moist lips).
• Saliva: Saliva production, important in digestion.
• Controls the Intellect: Houses Intellect (Yi) needed for memory, concentration, and focus.
• Effect of Pensiveness: Can be negatively affected by pensiveness.
• Spleen-Correspondences (Smell, Colour, Taste, Climate, Sound): Provides details about these characteristics relevant to Spleen diagnosis.

The Kidneys

• Primary Functions:
  • Storing the Jing (Pre-Heaven Essence) and nourishing the fetus
  • Storing the Jing (Post-Heaven Essence) and assisting in growth and development.
  • Producing marrow, filling the brain, and controlling the bones
  • Controlling reception of Qi
  • Controlling Water
• Other Functions:
  • Open into ears
  • Manifest in the hair
  • Control spittle
  • Control the two lower orifices
  • House the Zhi (Will-power)
  • Control Mingmen (Fire of the Gate of Life/Minister Fire)
• Relationships:
  • Smell: putrid
  • Colour: black
  • Taste: salty
  • Climate: cold
  • Sound: groaning

The Kidneys—Functions & Jing (Essence)

• Pre-Heaven Essence: Inherited Essence before birth, necessary for fetal nourishment and after birth growth/maturation. Also determines constitutional strength and sexual vitality.
• Post-Heaven Essence: Essence extracted from food that the internal organs transform.
• Kidney Essence: A mature stage of Pre-Heaven Essence - considered the material basis of sexual function/life. It affects menstrual blood (Tian Gui) and sperm production. Insufficient Kidney Essence can affect fertility, growth, and development in children.
• Kidneys Control Bones: Strong Kidney Essence lead to strong bones and teeth
• Weak Kidney Essence leads to brittle bones, loose teeth, and poor development.

The Kidneys—Functions: Govern Water

• Kidneys are the 'Gate': Control water metabolism and urination
• Healthy kidneys: normal urination; Imbalance: scanty or profuse urination (different shades of colour/clarity indicate the problem).
• Kidney influence on water in each Jiao: Upper (Lungs), Middle (Spleen), Lower (Bladder, Small/Large Intestines)

The Kidneys—Functions: Control the Reception of Qi

• Lungs and Kidneys work together
• Lungs direct Qi downward and Kidneys receive/hold Qi
• Kidney Yang (Mingmen) is essential for receiving/descending Qi
• Congested chest, asthma, and breathlessness can be linked to Kidney's failure to receive/descend Qi

The Kidneys—Other functions

• Kidneys open into the ears: Affects hearing and/or tinnitus (ringing in ears)
• Kidneys manifest in the hair: Thinning, brittleness, premature graying.
• Kidneys control spittle: Spittle (thick, at back of tongue; thin, in mouth aids digestion).
• Kidneys control the two lower orifices (urethra, spermatic ducts, and anus): Influence the function of urination and bowel movements.
• Kidneys control Will-power: Associated with determination, single-mindedness, tenacity, and memory.
• Kidney Control Mingmen: Mingmen provides heat for bodily functions and has a special form of Fire that can cool the water down as well as produce it.
• Relationship w/ Stomach: Stomach is the source of fluids; Kidney is the organ that transforms/excretes them.

The Pericardium

• Functions: Directly related to the Heart, with similar functions (controlling Blood, housing the Mind (Shen), protecting the Heart)
• Closely related to the Heart - considered a membrane that wraps around the heart.
• Involved in defense against Environmental Pathogenic Factors (EPFs)
• The Pericardium may be obstructed during acute febrile diseases by heat manifesting as high fever and delirium (or other altered states).
• Channel Functions:
  • Blood and Qi control and regulation
  • Mind calming and stimulation
  • Influence on chest, Qi, and Lungs.

Pericardium - Relationship to the Uterus

• The Pericardium is indirectly connected to the uterus, via the Uterus Vessel (Bao Mai).
• Emotions can impact ovulation and menstruation.

Test your knowledge on the functions of the kidneys and spleen as described in traditional medicine. Explore how these organs interact, their impact on digestion, and the consequences of imbalances. Perfect for students studying health and body systems.