Comparative Guts

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Minor connecting blood vasculature of body including gut

20th century reproduction of 17th century CE painting. Held in Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia, Russia

The Four Tantras details specific enumerations of minor channels illustrated here in anatomical layout with important physiological functions. There are 360 interconnecting channels as they relate to skin and muscle tissue, vital and vessel organs, bones and bone marrow. Twenty-four major blood vessels develop muscle tissue with each of their 120 small branching vessels (black). Another 234 small branches connect with muscle and skin externally and two sets of 233 branches connect to vital and vessel organs internally and bone medially. These vessels (vermillion) number 700 total. The vast network of vasculature emphasizes the guts’ primary role in systemically developing, nourishing, maintaining and healing the body through propagating nutritional essences to and expelling waste products from all bodily constituents through this network. Vessels are enumerated and labeled as they relate to each region of the vital and vessel gut organs. Major blood vessels are sketched for anatomical proximity and relation. 

— Tawni Tidwell