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Jaina Biology shells of Sankha (conchifera ), Suktika (pearl mussel) and Sambuka (Helix ),64 etc. are examples of exoskeleton. Man and all the other five-sensed vertebrates characteristically have endoskeleton.65 As mentioned, the human skeleton consists of three hundred bones.66 There is a divergence of views among the Indian sciences of Biology on the total number of bones of the human body. Caraka 67 mentions three hundred and sixty bones including teeth and their alveolii, Suśruta 68 enumerates three hundred bones like Jaina Biology. Visuddhimagga69 shares this view in this matter, while Vāgbhat70 supports Caraka in his contention. But modern Biology71 states that the human skeleton consists of approximately two hundred or two hundred and six72 bones. “The exact number varies at different periods of life, as some of the bones which at first are distinct gradually become fused73"). Most of the bones are hollow and contain the bone marraw (atthimimjā).74
Parts of the Skeleton :
The five-sensed Vertebrate human skeleton as found in Jaina Biology may be divided into the axial skeleton (the bones and cartilages in the middle or axis of the body),75 and the appendicular skeleton (the bones and cartilages of limbs).76 The axial skeleton includes the skull (siram ) 77 backbone (pitthakaramdā ),78 ribs (pāmsaliyārūvakaramdā )79 and breast bone (sternum = Kadaha ).80
64. Tattvārthadhigama Sutra, II, 24. 65. Tandula Veyāliya, 16, p. 35; p. 41 ( Atthiyakadbine), 66. "Tiņni" ātth dāmasayaim", Tandula Veyaliya, 16, p. 35. 67. Carakasa mhita IV. 7.6 68. Susruta Samhitta III. 5.50. "Evamasthnām triņi satani pūryante / 69. Visuaddnimaggā VI. 89 atirekatisata athikasamainussayan" 70. A. H. II. 316. 71. Biology, p. 339. 72. Vide Sacitra Ayurveda, p. 69, March, 1972. 73. Biology, p. 339. 74. Bhagavati Sūtra 1.7.61. ; Tandula Veyaliya., p. 3, p. 7; 6, p. 10.
"atthițațhimimjakesa.......etc., 75. Tandula Veyaliya, 16, p. 35. 76. Ibid 17, p. 38 ; p. 41. 77. Tandula Veyāliya 16, p. 35.
“Caukavälam siram" "Caturbhi kapalaih-asthikhandarūpaih siro bhavati (Comm.) Ibid. Atihārassa ya pitthakaramdakya -Prsthi Vamsasya sandhayo granthirūpā bhavabts yathā vamsasya parvani, teşu (comm). "Barasa pamsaliya karamda" Ibid.
Sarire dvādasa ( Pamsulkaripah Kara nd akahvamsaka bhavati (comm). 80. Chappamsuttic Ibid 16. See its comm. kadale.
78.
19.
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