Presentation summary

Introduction :
The Four Seas are described in the classical texts of traditional Chinese medicine. We propose a new understanding of this concept, or of this system of the Four Seas, in order to establish an original correspondence, on the anatomical, functional, and physio-pathological levels, with the model of contemporary Western medicine concerning the serous structures (peritoneum, pleura, pericardium and meninges).

Method :
After revisiting the classical texts, SuWen chapters 33 and 60 and LingShu chapter 33, and then specifying their inscription in the socio-cultural and mythological field of ancient China, we develop from alogical and analogical point of view an original proposition about the anatomical, functional, and pathophysiological description of the Four Seas. Our main objective is to propose a concrete and tangible correspondence between the traditional Chinese description on the one hand, and the anatomical and functional model of Western medicine on the other. Our secondary objective will be to discuss the relationship that could be established between the acupuncture points traditionally described for the treatment of pathologies of the Four Seas and the contemporary anatomical system connecting the serous and fascia.

Results :
The Four Seas can be correlated with the four serous tissues anatomically described by Western medicine :
The Sea of Water and Grain : the peritoneum
The Sea of Qi : the pleura
The Sea of Blood : the pericardium
The Sea of Marrow : the meninges
It follows from this result that pathological fluids accumulated in these serous environments could be treated using the acupuncture points proposed for each of the seas. Furthermore, this result leads us to discuss the relationship between the RenMai5 and the Kidney14 on the same line. We thus logically connect the Four Seas to the modern fascia.

Conclusion :
We propose an anatomical relationship between the Four Seas, the serous membranes and the fascias