BİRİNCİ FEN · ÜÇÜNCÜ BÂB · ONUNCU FASIL · Birinci Madde
**Article One: Concerning the Qualities and Nature of Organs**
O esteemed one! It is known that the scholars of anatomy have said: Just as bodies born from the first constitution of the four humors are mixtures of the body, so too are bodies born from the first constitution of the four mixtures the organs of the body. Some organs exist in simple forms, while others are compound.
A simple organ (singular) is that which shares its definition and name with the whole to which it belongs when any of its parts are taken. Examples include bone, flesh, and nerves. These are called “organs of uniform constitution.” A compound (composite) organ is one in which any part taken from it does not share its definition or name with the whole. The face, hand, and foot are examples. For only a portion of the face *is* the face. They are also termed "instrumental auxiliaries," for they have served as instruments in the execution of movement and actions.
The first among the organs of uniform constitution is bone, which has been created solid and hard. For bones are the foundation of the body and the pillars upon which the movements of the organs depend. Then comes cartilage, which is soft and flexible. It is softer than bone but firmer than other organs. The function of cartilage is to beautifully connect a soft organ to a hard one, thus remaining between the soft and firm substances, preventing the soft substance from being harmed by the solid during impacts and falls.
Next come the nerves, which are bodies that emerge from the brain or spinal cord; they are soft when bending, firm when separating, and white in nature. All organs of sensation and movement are completed through nerves. Then there are tendons (evtar), which originate from the ends of muscles and resemble nerves. They are closely attached to movable organs. With the contraction and relaxation of a muscle, the tendons are drawn or released, drawing the movable organs along with them. When the muscles relax and return to their original position, the aforementioned tendons ease up, extending the organ to its natural state.
Then there is connective tissue, which originates from bones and resembles nerves. Those that extend to the muscles are called *ribat* in absolute terms. Those that connect bone joints and other organs are termed “akab.” None of these ligaments possess sensation, thus preventing them from being harmed by excessive movement and friction necessary for their function. Their benefit is to bind the organs together.
Next come the arteries (shiryan), which emerge from the heart; they are long and hollow, with lengths similar to nerves and substances resembling ligaments. They have movements of separation and rest, expansion and contraction. These arteries are the vital vessels. Their benefit is that they were created to expel vaporous fumes from the heart, relieving it and delivering the spirit to the organs of the body.
Then come the veins (evride, or toplardamar) which emerge from the liver. Their substance resembles that of the arteries; all are immobile. The veins were created to distribute blood from the liver throughout the body. Then there are membranes (agshiye), wide and exceedingly fine, woven from unseen, subtle nerves. They cover the surfaces of other bodies. They have numerous functions, one of which is to protect the organs in their respective positions and forms. Another is to bind the organs together through their fibers, connecting nerves and ligaments; binding the kidneys to the spine, for example. A further function is that in organs lacking sensation, such as the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys, these membranes directly sense afflictions reaching them, while things reaching the parts covered by the membranes are sensed indirectly.
Finally, there is flesh (muscle), which is the soft support and strength of the body’s voids and spaces among the aforementioned organs. The instrumental organs are composed of these; and praise be to God, they too will be explained later.