The Five Zang Organs
Each organ system is in charge of very specific physiological functions and correspond to very specific aspects of the body. In addition, they each are related to each other in very particular kinds of ways. The Zang Organs are the “solid” organs and are Yin in nature. This chart provides an overview of the correlation’s used with in the Zang-Fu system of diagnosis.
Zang Organ |
Related Fu Organ |
Main Function |
Opens Into: |
Manifests On: |
Related function |
Liver |
Gallbladder |
Maintaining potency of Qi |
Eyes |
Nails |
Controls Tendons. |
Heart |
Small Intestine |
Dominates the vessels |
Tongue |
Face |
Houses the Mind. |
Spleen |
Stomach |
Governs digestion |
Mouth |
Lips |
Dominates the four limbs and the muscles. |
Lungs |
Large Intestine |
Dominate Qi and control respiration |
Nose |
Dominates water dispersing, descending, water passages, hair, skin, and pores. |
|
Kidney |
Urinary Bladder |
Stores essence, dominates, development and reproduction |
Ear |
Head hair |
Dominates water metabolism, bone, and the anterior and posterior orifices. Manufactures marrow |
The Six Fu Organs Each organ system is in charge of very specific physiological functions and correspond to very specific aspects of the body. In addition, they each are related to each other in very particular kinds of ways. The Fu Organs are the “hollow” organs and are Yang in nature. This chart provides an overview of the correlation’s used within the Zang-Fu system of diagnosis.
Fu Organ |
Related Zang Organ |
Main Function |
Gallbladder |
Liver |
Storing bile |
Small Intestine |
Heart |
Separates the pure from the turbid |
Stomach |
Spleen |
Receives and decomposes food |
Large Intestine |
Lung |
Receives waste material sent down from the Small intestine, absorb its fluid content, and form the remainder into feces for excretion |
Urinary Bladder |
Kidney |
Temporary storage of urine |
San-Jiao |
Pericardium |
Govern various forms of Qi and assist in the passage of Yuan Qi and body fluid |
The Six Fu Organs The extraordinary organs are named as such as they do not actually fall under the zang or the fu organ system (with the exception of the gallbladder) and have functions outside the scope of this focus. They are: Brain, Marrow, Bones, Blood Vessels, Gallbladder, and Uterus.