An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. II — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1911)

(hips), and the fifth one is the Trika or triangular bone (the sacrum). There are thirty-six bones in one Parjsva (side), and the same number in the other ; thirty in the Prishtha (back), eight in the Urah (chest) ; and two more known as Akshaka (collar-bone). (Thus making one hundred and seventeen in all). 19.

Bones above the Clavicles :— There are nine bones in the GrlvA (neck) ; four in the Kantha-nadi* (wind-pipe) ; two in the Hanu (Jaws). The teeth number thirty-two. There are three bones in the nose ; one in the Talu (palate) ; also one in each Kama (ear), S'ankha (temple), and Ganda (check), (thus making six in all) ; six bones form the Sira (cranium). [Thus making sixty-three in all]. 20.

Different kinds of Bones and their

situations : —These bones may be divided into five classes (according to their character), such as the Kapala, Ruchaka, Taruna, Vailaya and the Nalaka. The bones, situated in the knee-joints, shoulders (Ansa-f), hips (Nitamvas), cheeks (Ganda\ palate, temples, and the cranium belong to the Kap£fcla kind (flat bones). The teeth belong to the Rucliaka, class. The bones in the nose, ears, throat (trachea) and the socket of the eyes (Akshi-koshaf ) are called Tarana (cartilages) ; while those which are found in the palm (wrist), foot (ankle), sides back, chest and regions of the abdomen, belong to the Valaya (irregular or curved) class. The remaining t Though it is asserted here that there exist Taruna bones in the sockets of the eyes (Akshi-kosha) but there is no mention at all in the text, of the presence of any such therein. There is no mention of the shoulder-blade (Ansa) here though it is a part of the skeleton.

* Tala, Kurcha, and Kantha-nadi are identical with Charak's Salaka, Sthana and Jalru respectively.

l66 THK SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [diap. V.

bones belong to Nalaka class (long-bones, lit.— recd-likc or cylindrical). 21.

IVIcmorablc Verses : — As trees arc supported by the hard core inside their trunks, so the body is supported (and kept erect) by the firm bones (which are found in its inside). And since these bones form the pith (Sara) of the human organism, they are not destroyed even after the destruction and falling off of the attached flesh, skin, etc. of the body. Muscles are attached strongly to the bones by means of the veins (Siras) and ligaments (Snayus), and are thus kept in position and do not fall off. 22.

The Sandhis or Jomts-(IVI. T.) :— The joints ma\' be divided into two kinds according as they are immovable (synarthrosis) and movable (diarthrosis). Those which are situated at the four extremities as well as in the Kati (waist) and Hanus (jaws^ are movable ; the others are known to be unmovable by the learned. There are two hundred and ten articulations (Sandhis) in the human body. Of these sixty-eight -re in the four extremities ; fifty-nine in the trunk ^Koshtha); and eighty-three in the neck and in the region above it. 23.

Sandhis of the four Extremities :—

Three joints are found in each toe, two only in the great toe, thus making fourteen in each leg ; one is placed in each ankle, knee-joint and groin, thus making seventeen Sandhis in each leg or thirty-four in the two lower extremities. A similar number is to be found m each of the two upper extremities. 24-25.

Sandhis of the koshtha and Clavicles : — There are three Sandhis about the Kapala or flat bone in the Kati (waist, hence pelvis) ; twenty-four in the vertibral column ; twenty-four in the sides ; eight in the

Chap, v.] SARIRA STHANAM. 1 6/

chest ; eight in the Griva (neck) ; three in the Kanthas (windpipe) ; eighteen in the cords or bands (Nadi) binding the Kloma and the heart ; thirty-two about the roots of the teeth, one in the region of the thyroid (Kakalaka) ; one in the nose ; two in the eyes ; one in each of the two ears, temples and cheeks (thus making six in all) ; two about the joints of the jaw-bones ; two over the e}'ebrows ; two above the temples ; five in the Kapala bone of the fore-head and one in the head. 26-27.

Their forms, distinctions, and locations : — These joints may be divided into eight different classes (named after the objects which they respectively resemble in shape), namely Kora (hinged or lap-shaped), Udukhala (ball and socket), Samudga (back of the palm), Pratara (raft), Tunna-sevani (seam-like or dove-tailed), Vayasa-tunda i^crow-beak), Mandala (circular), and Sankha-vartah (involutions of conch-shell). The joints in the fingers, wrists, ankles knee-joints and elbows (Karpura) belong to the Kora group. Those in the axilla or shoulder-joint (Kaksha). teeth, and hip (Vankshana) arc of the Udukhala type. The joints in the region of the anus, vagina, shoulders (Ansa-pitha — i.e glenoid cavity) and hips, belong to the Ssiimudga form. The joints in the neck and the spinal columns, belong to the Pratara (irregular) type ; while those found in the Kapala bones of the pelvis (Kati) and the forehead, arc of Tunna-sevani (suture) form. The joints on either side of the cheek-bones (temporomandibular) belong to the Vayasa-tunda type. The Mandala joints occur in the encircling Nadi of the heart, throat, eyes and Kloma. Sankh£l-varta joints occur in the bones of the ears and the nostrils. The peculiar features of these different kinds of joints (Sandhis) are evident from their names. 28,