Spleen - The Zang Organ

The chanel of the spleen connects with the stomach, relating the spleen externally-internally to the stomach. It opens into the mouth. The main physiological functions of the spleen are governing transportation and transformation, controlling blood and dominating the muscles.

1. Governing transportation and transformation. Transportation implies transmission. Transformation implies digestion and absorption. The splee has the function of digesting food, absorbing its essential substances with a part of the fluid supplied, and transmitting them to the heart and the lung from where they are sent to nourish the whole body. Normal functioning of the spleen is required for good appetite, normal digestion and absorption, good nourishment and normal transmission of fluid.
2. Controlling blood. The spleen has the function of keeping the blood circulating inside the vessels and preventing it from extravasations.
3. Dominating the muscles. Normal functioning of the spleen in transportation and transformation enables the muscles to receive adequate nourishment from the food essentials and thus maintains muscle thickness and strength.
4. Opening into the mouth. The spleen and the mouth co-ordinate functionally in receiving, transporting and transforming food. When the function of the spleen in governing transportation and transformation is normal, the appetite will be good and the lips will be red and lustrous.
5. The qi of the spleen has the further function of holding and keeping the internal organs in their normal positions.

Liver - The Zang Organ

The liver is situated in the right hypochondriac region, its channel connecting with the gall bladder relating it externally-internally with the gall bladder. The liver opens into the eye. Its main physiological functions are storing blood, maintaining patency for the flow of qi (vital function), and controlling the tendons.

(1) Storing blood. The liver possesses the function of storing blood and regulating the volume of circulating blood. During rest, part of the blood remains in the liver, while during vigorous activity blood is released from the liver to increase the volume of blood in circulation to the required amount. The liver, therefore, along with the heart, supplies the tissues and organs with blood, and it influences menstruation as well.

(2) Maintaining patency for the flow of qi (vital functions) means that the liver is responsible for harmonious and unobstructed functional activities of the human body, including the following three aspects:

a. The Liver is related to emotional activities, especially depression and anger. Prolonged mental depression or a fit of anger may weaken the liver so that it is unable to promote the unrestrained and free flow of qi. Conversely, dysfunction of the liver is often accompanied by emotional changes such as mental depression and irascibility.
b. The harmonious and free-flowing functional activity of the liver promotes the functioning of the other zang-fu organs, channels and collaterals, especially those of the spleen and stomach in digestion and absorption.
c. This function of the liver also affects bile secretion, it storage in the gall bladder and excretion into the intestines.

(3) Controlling the tendons. The yin and blood of the liver nourish the tendons, keeping them in a normal state of contraction and relaxation. When the liver is supplied with ample yin and blood, the tendons are strong and free in extension and flexion.
(4) Opening itu the eye. Each zang-fu organ has certain influence on the function of the eye. However, because the liver stores blood and its channel directly communicates with the eye, it has a closer relation to ocular function, such as vision and movement of the eye, than other zang-fu organs.