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Difference between revisions of "Physiology of Nervous System"

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All functions of nervous system in human body are represented through ‘Vāta’  in  Ayurveda.  In  general,  the  functions  ascribed  to  ‘Vāta’  are:  Control  and  co-ordination  of  different  parts  of  the  body,  initiation  of  all  movements,  regulation  of  psychological  processes,  initiation  of  all  activities  of  sense  organs,  transmission  of  different  sensations,  production  of  speech,  secreto-  motor  functions  in  the  gut,  expulsion  of  wastes  from the body and control of respiration (Ca.Sū.12/8). ‘Vāta’ is divided into five sub types – ‘Prāna’, ‘Udāna’, ‘Vyāna’, ‘Samāna’ and ‘Apāna’.   
 
All functions of nervous system in human body are represented through ‘Vāta’  in  Ayurveda.  In  general,  the  functions  ascribed  to  ‘Vāta’  are:  Control  and  co-ordination  of  different  parts  of  the  body,  initiation  of  all  movements,  regulation  of  psychological  processes,  initiation  of  all  activities  of  sense  organs,  transmission  of  different  sensations,  production  of  speech,  secreto-  motor  functions  in  the  gut,  expulsion  of  wastes  from the body and control of respiration (Ca.Sū.12/8). ‘Vāta’ is divided into five sub types – ‘Prāna’, ‘Udāna’, ‘Vyāna’, ‘Samāna’ and ‘Apāna’.   
  
==‘Prāna Vāta’== This  is  situated  in  head  and  is  responsible  for  the  control  over  intellectual  functions,  cardiovascular  functions,  sense  organs,  psychological  activities,  respiration,  and  reflex  activities  like  sneezing,  belching  and  deglutition  (A.H.Sū.  12/5).  Based  on  this  sub-type of ‘Vāta’, ‘Prānavaha Srotas’ has derived its name.   
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==Prāna Vāta== This  is  situated  in  head  and  is  responsible  for  the  control  over  intellectual  functions,  cardiovascular  functions,  sense  organs,  psychological  activities,  respiration,  and  reflex  activities  like  sneezing,  belching  and  deglutition  (A.H.Sū.  12/5).  Based  on  this  sub-type of ‘Vāta’, ‘Prānavaha Srotas’ has derived its name.   
  
==‘Udāna Vāta’== Its  active  site  is  chest  region.  It  is  basically  responsible  for  production  of  speech. The effort and strength required for speech are also the functions of ‘Udāna’. It also helps in recall of vocabulary required for well-articulated speech (A.H.Sū. 12/5).  
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==Udāna Vāta== Its  active  site  is  chest  region.  It  is  basically  responsible  for  production  of  speech. The effort and strength required for speech are also the functions of ‘Udāna’. It also helps in recall of vocabulary required for well-articulated speech (A.H.Sū. 12/5).  
  
==‘Vyāna Vāta’== The  active  site  of  ‘Vyāna  Vāta’  is  Heart.  It  makes  the  circulation  of  blood  possible  by  controlling  the  heart.  Vyana  makes  ‘Rasa’  (the  intravascular  fluid  including   
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==Vyāna Vāta== The  active  site  of  ‘Vyāna  Vāta’  is  Heart.  It  makes  the  circulation  of  blood  possible  by  controlling  the  heart.  Vyana  makes  ‘Rasa’  (the  intravascular  fluid  including   
 
plasma and lymph) to get forcefully ejected out of the heart and makes it circulate throughout the body (Ca. Ci. 15/36). So, sympathetic and parasympathetic control of heart is indicated by ‘Vyāna  Vāta’.  Some authors have ascribed the functions of somatic nervous system also to ‘Vyāna Vāta’ as movements like flexion, extension, opening and closure of eyelids have been said to be under its control (Ca. Ci. 28/9).         
 
plasma and lymph) to get forcefully ejected out of the heart and makes it circulate throughout the body (Ca. Ci. 15/36). So, sympathetic and parasympathetic control of heart is indicated by ‘Vyāna  Vāta’.  Some authors have ascribed the functions of somatic nervous system also to ‘Vyāna Vāta’ as movements like flexion, extension, opening and closure of eyelids have been said to be under its control (Ca. Ci. 28/9).         
  
  
==‘Samāna Vāta’==
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==Samāna Vāta==
 
Active site of ‘Samāna’ is adjacent to gastro intestinal tract. It performs the functions  like  reception  of  food,  its  digestion  through  the  activation  of  ‘Agni’,  its  division  into useful and waste parts and its onward propulsion (A.H. Sū. 12/8). All these functions are either those of parasympathetic nerves supplying the gut or those of enteric nervous system.  
 
Active site of ‘Samāna’ is adjacent to gastro intestinal tract. It performs the functions  like  reception  of  food,  its  digestion  through  the  activation  of  ‘Agni’,  its  division  into useful and waste parts and its onward propulsion (A.H. Sū. 12/8). All these functions are either those of parasympathetic nerves supplying the gut or those of enteric nervous system.  
  
  
==‘Apāna Vāta’== This is active in pelvic region. ‘Apāna’ governs physiological processes like micturition,  defecation,  ejaculation,  menstruation  and  parturition  (A.H.Sū.12/9).  Autonomic  nervous system has got a definite role in most of these activities.  
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==Apāna Vāta== This is active in pelvic region. ‘Apāna’ governs physiological processes like micturition,  defecation,  ejaculation,  menstruation  and  parturition  (A.H.Sū.12/9).  Autonomic  nervous system has got a definite role in most of these activities.  
  
 
<ref name="Nervus system Physiology"/>
 
<ref name="Nervus system Physiology"/>

Revision as of 12:47, 13 November 2020

General description

Śiras (Head) is the region where all ‘Prānas’ (most vital entities) are situated and all sensory and motor activities are controlled from. That is why ‘Head’ is called the ‘Most important organ’ among all parts of the body (Ca. Sū. 17/12). It is described that all sensory and motor organs along with their ‘Prāanavaha Srotāmsi’, are connected to the brain in a fashion that is similar to the connections between the sunrays and the Sun. (Ca. Si. 9/4). Bhela has explained that the mind is situated in between the head and palate. The efficiency of mind is beyond any other sensory or motor organ (Bh.Ci. 8/2-3).

Reflexes

Caraka has opined that one should not suppress the natural urges related to micturition, defecation, ejaculation, flatus, vomiting, sneezing, eructation, yawning, hunger, thirst, tears, sleep and also dyspnoea developed after exertion (Ca. Sū. 7/3-4). It should be noted that one or the other reflex is involved in all these activities. So, the term ‘Vega’ stands almost equivalent to reflex.

Concept of ‘Vāta’

All functions of nervous system in human body are represented through ‘Vāta’ in Ayurveda. In general, the functions ascribed to ‘Vāta’ are: Control and co-ordination of different parts of the body, initiation of all movements, regulation of psychological processes, initiation of all activities of sense organs, transmission of different sensations, production of speech, secreto- motor functions in the gut, expulsion of wastes from the body and control of respiration (Ca.Sū.12/8). ‘Vāta’ is divided into five sub types – ‘Prāna’, ‘Udāna’, ‘Vyāna’, ‘Samāna’ and ‘Apāna’.

==Prāna Vāta== This is situated in head and is responsible for the control over intellectual functions, cardiovascular functions, sense organs, psychological activities, respiration, and reflex activities like sneezing, belching and deglutition (A.H.Sū. 12/5). Based on this sub-type of ‘Vāta’, ‘Prānavaha Srotas’ has derived its name.

==Udāna Vāta== Its active site is chest region. It is basically responsible for production of speech. The effort and strength required for speech are also the functions of ‘Udāna’. It also helps in recall of vocabulary required for well-articulated speech (A.H.Sū. 12/5).

==Vyāna Vāta== The active site of ‘Vyāna Vāta’ is Heart. It makes the circulation of blood possible by controlling the heart. Vyana makes ‘Rasa’ (the intravascular fluid including plasma and lymph) to get forcefully ejected out of the heart and makes it circulate throughout the body (Ca. Ci. 15/36). So, sympathetic and parasympathetic control of heart is indicated by ‘Vyāna Vāta’. Some authors have ascribed the functions of somatic nervous system also to ‘Vyāna Vāta’ as movements like flexion, extension, opening and closure of eyelids have been said to be under its control (Ca. Ci. 28/9).


Samāna Vāta

Active site of ‘Samāna’ is adjacent to gastro intestinal tract. It performs the functions like reception of food, its digestion through the activation of ‘Agni’, its division into useful and waste parts and its onward propulsion (A.H. Sū. 12/8). All these functions are either those of parasympathetic nerves supplying the gut or those of enteric nervous system.


==Apāna Vāta== This is active in pelvic region. ‘Apāna’ governs physiological processes like micturition, defecation, ejaculation, menstruation and parturition (A.H.Sū.12/9). Autonomic nervous system has got a definite role in most of these activities.

[1]

References

  1. The content Nervus system Physiology is borrowed from an article by Mr.Kishor Patwardhan