Human Anatomical Concepts in Siddha Medicine and its Relevance in Modern Anatomy: A Literary Review

Abstract

Human Anatomy is crucial for diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical interventions in clinical practice. Siddha medical system which is one of the oldest traditional systems of medicine, contains extensive descriptions of human anatomical concepts that integrate both physical and spiritual dimensions. A comprehensive understanding of these concepts is essential for siddha physicians in clinical decision making and treatment planning. This literary review was aimed to identify and explore the siddha concepts of human anatomy and analyze their relevance in Modern medical anatomy. Data for this study were collected from the related siddha texts and research publications. Collected data were subjected to content analysis and humble efforts were made to compare siddha anatomical descriptions with modern anatomical science. The study identified major areas of focus, including spiritual anatomy, embryology, structural anatomy, regional anatomy, ocular anatomy, Aasayangal, musculoskeletal structures and neuroanatomy. Findings indicate notable similarities with modern anatomy in Embryology, body structure, ocular descriptions and regional anatomy while slight variations were found in musculoskeletal and neuroanatomy. Siddha texts place significant emphasis on Spiritual anatomy which is largely absent in modern medical science. Therefore, incorporating siddha anatomical perspectives into diagnostic and therapeutic frameworks may enrich siddha clinical practice and potentially improve treatment outcomes.