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The Organlsation of the Human Body
167
In the medical science the Jaina view of the mechanics of breathing briefly outlined is fully supported in the following manners: “The respiratory a paratus consists of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs and pleurae.40 When one breathes in the air, it goes through the trachea and bronchi to the air - sacs of the lungs which are surrounded by blood capillaries. According to the property of diffusion, the oxygen inside the alveoli and the carbon dioxide in the capillaries interchange themselves through the thin membranes. As the oxygen inside the alveoli is taken up by the blood, the air inside the lungs must be renewed to bring in a fresh supply of oxygen and the waste products, sach as, carbon dioxide must also be thrown out of the body" 41
The first process by which one breathes in air is called inspiration, i. e. the Jaina ‘apāna', and the second one by which the impure air inside the lungs is thrown out is called expiration which correponds to the Jaina 'prāna”.42 This combined process of iphaling and exhaling air is called respiration, i.e. apāna and 'prāna' of Jaina Biology. The absorption of oxygen by the red corpuscles of the blood and the removal of waste products, such as, carbondioxide and water, take place in the lungs by this process of respiration.
Respiratory Devices in other Animals :
Respiration42 takes place in all other animals. But its detailed discussiou is not found in Jaina Biology. It can be surmised from its references that external respiration in most lower animals is carried on by specilized structures - gills, for example, of fish, molluscs, e. g. Sankha (Conchifera ). Suktika (Pearl-mussel ), Sambuka (Helix ) and many other arthopods (spider ) ( Nandyavarta, but not insects ) have these organs.
According to modern Biology, "In fish, water is taken in through the mouth, passes over the gills, and out the gill clefts. Gills like lungs, have inin walls, and are moist and well supplied with blood capillaries. Oxygen dissolved in the water diffuses through the gill
40. Human Anatomy, Henry Gray, p. 1016. 41. Ibid. 42. “Urdbvagami samiranah prānah i adhogatirapanah prāṇaḥ /"
T.S. II, 8.12, Tikā, p. 158 "Udasyamanah Kosthayo vāyurucchvásalak saņah prāna ityucyate / Tenaivatmana vāhyo vāvurabhyantarikriyamāņo nibsvasalakşano apāná ityakhyāșyate I,
Sarvārthariddhi Putyapada v. 19 p. 43. Ucchvásapada, Pannavaņā P. I, 7.
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