From the above two perspectives it is evident that
Hṛdaya (heart) is among the first organs to develop during the intrauterine life.
The pericardial cavity can be identified before the head fold is formed or while it is in the process of formation at a stage when embryo possesses only two somites.
The hypothesis of Acharya proposing development of all the organs at the same time is correct since, the entire development of heart is completed between 21st and 40th day of embryonic life within a span of 20 days. During this part other organs will also develop.
The basic development of heart occurs between the second and ninth week of embryogenesis.
The concept of Sirah (head) as the organ to develop at first can also be substantiated with the view that primitive heart is situated in the cervical region (cephalic end of the embryo).
Acharya Susruta's view that fetal organs are laid in Sukshma state is explained in the following manner, heartbeat begins at the end of third week but fetal heart can be auscultated only between 16-20 weeks of pregnancy onwards. Hence, this state is called as
Douhṛdini according to Ayurveda i.e., from 4th month of pregnancy.
Acharya Susruta's view about the development of heart as the purest essence of Rakta and Kapha appears to be more rationale. According to modern embryology heart develops from the angioblastic tissue and the first heart forming cells appear as irregular clumps and strands in the cephalic portion of the human embryo between the endoderm of the yolk-sac and splanchnic mesoderm i.e., the heart and the blood vessels of the embryo arise from angioblastic tissue, differentiated from the intra-embryonic mesoderm.
The incompressible but elastic character of the jelly-like sub stance (cardiac jelly) which occupies the myo-endocardial interval is responsible for the start of function of heart early in the fetal life. This substance is comparable to Kapha. Thus, Kapha (cardiac jelly) and Rakta (angioblast) from the embryological basis of development of Hridaya.
Reference- Ayurvedic management for heart disease-Dr. J.L. Sastry and Dr.K.Nisteswar
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