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(Seventh Section)
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM The nervous system is a complex co-ordinating device to keep the various parts of anything as complicated as the human body functioning. It integrates the activities of all the parts of the body. The nervous system (nähru ) is composed of brain ( matthu ), spinal cord (pitthakaramdā ?) and nerve trunks (aneganbāru), it connects receptors ( eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin ) with effectors (muscles and glands) and conducts impulses from the one to the other. The two mains functions are conduction and integration.
According to Jain Biology, there are stated to be nine hundred nbārus (nerves ),5 sixteen ligaments (kamdasās?) to bind two pieces of bones at the joints, two tendons for every muscle (dve maħsarajju)? to attach itself to pieces of bones with the two tappered ends.
Visuddhimagga explains that the “ligaments are found in the anterior of the body binding the bones together as withies and sticks are bound together with creepers".8
A like Jaina Biology both Visuddhimaggaa and the Susruta sa ṁhitā mention nine hundred nerves (navasnāyušatāni).
The Nerve Impulse :
The study of the nature of the nerve impulse in Jaina Biology is fraught with difficulties because nothing visible occurs when an impulse passes along a nerve. But its reference to the process of senseperception that "the ear hears the touched and entered sounds, the
1. Tar dula Veyaliya 16, p. 35. 2. Ibid, 17. p. 38. 3. Ibid 16, p. 36. 4. Ibid, 17, p. 38.
"Nava nhāru sayāim” Tandula Veyaliya 16, “spāyunam asthibandhanasirāņam
navagatāni," (Ibid., comm.), p. 37. 6. Kalyāṇakāraka 3.3., p. 30. "Şedaşa Kamdarāņi”, Ibid, 3.4, p. 31. 7. "Dve māmsarajju", Ibid, 3.4, p. 31. 8. Visuddhimagga XI 54
"Nhārú sárirabbhantare a thiniabandhamānā thitā, tatthayatha vallihi-vinaddhesu
kuļdadārusu, etc.” Sacitra Ayurved, p. 68, March 1972. da Visuddhimagga VIII 99. (Nharũ ti naya nharu-satani ) 9. "Susruta III. 5.6. "Nave snayugatãoi", p. 479.
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