Unusual Organs (Zi-Heng-Zhi-Fu)

physiology (organs)

In addition to the five zang and six fu organs, TCM identifies “extraordinary hollow organs”: the brain, bone marrow, bones, blood vessels, gallbladder, and uterus. They are hollow like the fu organs, but, like the zang organs, they store substances and do not participate directly in the digestion of food. Most of them are associated with the kidneys and their jing: the brain is called the “sea of bone marrow,” and the bones and brain are nourished by kidney jing. The uterus is associated with the Chong Mai and Ren Mai and governs menstruation and pregnancy. The gallbladder is unique in that it belongs to both the six fu organs and the extraordinary organs.