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Contributions of Sushutra To Anatomy
Contributions of Sushutra To Anatomy
Correspondence to: Dr Deepa Bhat, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, JSS Medical
College, JSS University, S S Nagar, Mysore, Karnataka. 570015. (India) E-mail:
deepavijaybhat@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Sushruta, a practitioner of ancient Indian Medicine has made significant contributions to various
branches of medicine. He is glorified as Father of Indian Surgery. He performed surgeries in the era
when no diagnostic facilities were available. What astonishes is the favorable outcome from most of
his procedures. Probably, the exhaustive knowledge of basic sciences he had would have made him
a versatile surgeon. This article has compiled the contributions of this great stalwart to anatomy
and interprets his perspective towards teaching this subject.
INTRODUCTION
The famous Sir Astley Cooper, President of Anatomy. It also reviews on how the thorough
the Royal College of Surgeons, said that knowledge of Anatomy might have helped him
'without dissection there can be no anatomy, in becoming a versatile surgeon.
and that anatomy is our Polar Star, for
without anatomy a surgeon can do nothing, Sushruta practiced and taught medicine
certainly nothing well (Dooley, 1973). around 600BC. He is famous as a disciple of
Anatomy is widely appreciated as being one Dhanwantari, who is known as Lord Deity of
of the cornerstones of medical education. Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine. He
Learning anatomy through the dissected hailed from Kashi, a sacred Hindu place
cadaver is viewed as the uniquely defining located in Northern India. The most credible
feature of medical courses. Explosion of compilation of his achievements and teachings
knowledge in the field of medicine was are available in the treatise called “Sushruta
feasible due to exploration of human body Samhita”. This book is a comprehensive
through human cadaver dissection. compendium with 184 chapters, description of
1120 illnesses, 700 medicinal plants, 64
Often history is considered as facts of past, preparations from mineral sources and 57
which are obsolete, and no longer beneficial preparations based on animal sources
in practice. Even history of Anatomy is not an (Dwivedi, 2007).
exception to this. It is full of imperative
lessons in the Art and Science, which Contributions of Sushruta to Anatomy:
following generations ought to learn (Malomo, Embalming, Preservation and
2006). Many prominent personalities Dissection:
from India and other countries have made The study of anatomy is dealt with in the
significant contributions over centuries. Sarirasthana of the Susrutasamhita in its ten
Considerable information has been added to chapters. Sushruta was a strong upholder of
pool of anatomy knowledge from Galen to human dissection as evident from his texts.
Gray. Sushruta, popularly known as Father of His texts include a systematic method for the
Surgery owes a major share among them. dissection of the human cadaver. He had
The present article unfolds the vast given considerable thought to anatomical
knowledge of Anatomy which Sushruta had structure and function. His writings nowhere
and his contributions to various sections of give an indication that they were acquired
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Anatomy
Journal
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2014;
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(2):
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The Samhita describes the sequential techniques and thus implies a good
development of the structures of the foetus. knowledge of human facial anatomy.
Sushruta has mentioned in one of the
chapters of Sharirastana that the foetus Sushruta delineated five anatomical divisions
develops seven layers of skin, naming each (Madalas) of the eye: eyelashes, eyelid,
layer and the specific diseases which may sclera, choroid and the pupil (Raju, 2003). He
affect that layer in adult life. He was also described 101 number of marmas(vital spots)
aware of diseases by genetic inheritance. He in the body which causes fatal result on
mentions many congenital defects acquired injury, either sudden death or subsequent
from parents and those resulting from deformity. The detailed anatomical landmark
indulgences of the mother during pregnancy. of each and every marma was described by
Therefore he advises her to avoid exertion for Sushruta (Singh, 2011). He performed
the perfect development of the foetus surgeries in the antiquity era itself covering
(Mukundcharandas, 2005). most of the branches viz. general surgery,
ENT, urology, orthopaedics, paediatric
Developmental and heredity concepts were surgery, plastic surgery, orodental surgery,
known to Sushruta. He has given a obstetrics and gynaecology.
rudimentary account of human epigenetic
development in his book. He also attaches Skeletal Anatomy
importance to neuroembryology in the Sarira- Sushruta deserves the credit of classifying
sthana section. (Singh, 2011). skeletal injuries into groups in respect of their
anatomical variation, prognostic values and
What astonishes much more is the ensured proper management even before
proficiency he accomplished just by mere discovery of Roentgen X rays.
observation, which is possible in present day
only with the aid of investigations and He classified bones based on dissections as
ultrasonography. flat bones, small cubical bones, cartilages,
Gross Anatomy thin curved bones and long bones.
The knowledge of circulation of vital fluids Classification of this accuracy shows he was a
through the body was known to Sushruta in keen observer and could apply anatomical
6th century BC itself. Also he seems to have knowledge gathered into practice. He had a
possessed knowledge of the arteries, which thorough knowledge on types of fractures,
were described as ‘channels’ (Dwivedi, 2007). dislocation, sprain, their healing process
which helped in successful management with
Sushruta was well aware of the urinary proper rehabilitation. Various devices were
stones, their varieties; the anatomy of urinary also designed by him in management of bone
bladder along with its relations is well injuries (Deshpande, 1970)
recorded in the chapter on urinary stones
(Agarwal). He concluded - “The surgeon who Neuroanatomy
is not well cognizant of the nature and This gifted surgeon has included elementary
position of the vulnerable parts in the 8 srotas neurosurgery in his conspectus:
(ducts) namely the perineal raphe, spermatic “Ten nerves maintain the functions of the
cords, ducts of the testes, Yoni (vagina), the body by carrying impulses of sound, touch,
rectum, the urethra, urine carrying ducts or vision, taste, smell, respiration, sighing,
ureters and the urinary bladder and is not yawning, hunger, laughing, speech, and
practiced in the art of surgery, brings about crying . . .”
the death of many innocent victims” (Das, “A pair of nerve each responds to sound,
2007). Sushruta had an in depth touch, vision, taste, and smell.” “Two nerves
understanding about various procedures lower down at the back of ear (vidhura) which
which represents the equivalent of modern if cut produce deafness; a pair of nerves
techniques used in plastic and reconstructive inside the two nostrils which if cut cause
anosmia;a pair of nerves below the end of the
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2014;
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(2):
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eyebrow which if cut causes blindness.”— as Father of Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and
Susruta Samhita. Urology etc. The writings of many great
eminent scholars passed from ancient India to
Sushruta considered the head as the centre of Arabians after the invasion by Alexander the
all functions. Through exquisite dissections, Great. From them it passed on to Greeks and
he described the cranial nerves in detail and Romans. Hence the ancient India deserves
envisaged their physiologic importance. He the credit of origin of modern medicine rather
has also explained in various chapters of his than to Greece and Arabia (Rao, 1966). The
book on neurological disorders like paradox still persists why the achievements of
hemiplegia, epilepsy, fainting, stiff neck and this ancient Indian legendary was not in
many more (Anirban, 2011) limelight. Also we boldly can affirm the need
to uphold cadaver dissection to gain
Conclusion: From his works it is evident knowledge in Anatomy, thus to become skilled
that there is no area of medicine not ventured surgeons.
by Sushruta. No wonder he has been glorified
Conflict of Interest: Nil
REFERENCES
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