The functions of living beings are described in terms of the following five centres of the body:
1. "heart" or "mind" (hsin); this refers to the "command centre" of the body, which manifests itself as consciousness and intelligence;
2. "lungs" or "respiratory system" (fei); this system regulates various intrinsic functions of the body, and maintains cybernetic balance;
3. "liver" (kan); this term includes the limbs and trunk, the mechanism for emotional response to the external environment, and the action of organs;
4. "spleen" (p'i); this organ system regulates the distribution of nutrition throughout the body, and the metabolism, bringing the strength and vigour to the physical body; and
5. "kidney" (shen); this refers to the system for regulating the storage of nutrition and the use of energy; the human life force depends on this system.
This theory is used to describe the system of body functions, and as a whole is referred to as the "latent phenomena" (ts'ang hsiang).
Chinese Medicine
