Master Archaeologist

Chapter 81 Anatomy!

Although Mr. Sui's skull was very strong, he was cut open in front of the modern craniotomy.

When his head was opened, bursts of exclamation sounded again.

"The dura mater is still intact and shiny!"

"The meningeal blood vessels are also clearly visible, and the twelve pairs of cranial nerves are almost recognizable!"

"My God, this is amazing! The brain is still there!"

Professor Wu Tinggui reached into his skull with both hands, and took out a grayish semi-solid object that looked like a pig's brain in a hot pot restaurant, and put it on the weighing device that the assistant had already prepared.

"970 grams! It's amazing!"

This piece of brain occupies four-fifths of the space in the cranial cavity.

In layman's terms, this is the organization of the human brain.

The average weight of brain tissue is around 1375 grams.

It has been 100 years since Mr. Sui's death, yet there is still 970 grams of brain tissue left, with such a small shrinkage, complete shape, and basically no liquefaction. This is simply a medical miracle.

Generally, after the death of a human being, the brain tissue will begin to liquefy irreversibly, and then the meninges will rupture, turning into a puddle of "brain pulp" and passing away. Finally, after the external tissue of the skull rots, only the skull remains.

However, Mr. Sui's meninges are very well preserved, and they are still playing the role of fixing the brain tissue, which makes his brain marrow sleep in the ground for 100 years, and the tissue structure is still very good.

"This is better than the condition of Mrs. Xin Zhui's brain. Mrs. Xin Zhui's brain has shrunk in half, and it looks like tofu!"

"This Mr. Sui's brain cells are basically well preserved, even the brain nerves are still there!"

Professor Lu Xingwen from the Institute of Biology looked at the "Mr. Sui's brain" that was put into the antiseptic solution immediately after weighing with bright eyes, as if he was looking at some rare treasure.

In fact, it is indeed a rare treasure.

In 2008, archaeologists discovered the best-preserved ancient human brain in the village of Heslington near Yorkshire, England.

This brain was named "Heslington brain".

According to follow-up research, it can be determined that this ancient British man died between 673-482 BC, when he was only in his 30s.

And the method of death was very cruel. He was hanged first, and then beheaded with a knife. His head was chopped off and buried immediately until it was discovered by archaeologists.

As we all know, brain tissue is composed of protein, so it breaks down faster than other parts of the body and is difficult to preserve.

Therefore, well-preserved ancient human brain tissue is of great importance to the fields of protein labeling research, medicine, structural and functional proteomics, biomedical applications and archaeology.

Like "Heslington's brain", because of its unique protein folding method, if it can be studied thoroughly, modern scientists may have important clues to treat dementia patients.

In 2013, American archaeologists discovered a brain more than 4000 years ago in Turkey.

Don't ask why American archaeologists are archaeological in Turkey. Do they have anything to archaeology at home?

Anyway, it is also because of special reasons, natural disasters and special circumstances that the brain has not rotted and disappeared for thousands of years.

This brain also contributes to the study of the etiology of brain diseases in modern humans.

Most importantly, these two brains are of great significance to the study and understanding of the brain structure of ancient humans.

Before Mr. Sui appeared, although Huaxia had found many non-rotten corpses one after another.

But more than 2000 years ago, the brain tissue has all been broken down.

The brain of the best-preserved Mrs. Xin Zhui also shrank by half, and her organizational structure was destroyed.

Only Mr. Sui has a brain so complete that even the cranial nerves still exist!
This has important research value in human biology and modern medicine!
No wonder Professor Lu Xingwen regards it as a rare treasure!
For an old professor of human biology, what could be more fascinating than the organization of the brain from 2000 years ago?

Seeing Professor Lu watching the brain soaked in embalming solution, Kong Jianwen persuaded with some headaches:
"Professor Lu, after the detailed research is finished, report to the higher authorities!"

"The most important thing now is the dissection against time. Every second that passes by, Mr. Sui's body may rot faster by one second!"

When Mrs. Xin Zhui was unearthed, it was because of poor conditions and lack of awareness of protection that the preservation situation was extremely deteriorated, making the original lifelike corpse unsightly and severely damaged.

When the "Underground Palace" was built in the Hunan Museum for preservation, Mrs. Xin Zhui was completely different than when she was just unearthed.

It can be said to be a great regret in the history of Chinese archaeology.

Although the times have progressed, technology has also progressed.

Everyone has already had experience in handling wet corpses, and the conditions have come up, including a sterile laboratory and everything.

But an oxygen-free anatomical environment certainly cannot be created.

However, when Mr. Sui was exposed to an environment full of oxygen, even if there were no bacteria, the inactive human cells would decompose themselves after exposure to oxygen.

Therefore, shortening the dissection time as much as possible, and then properly embalming Mr. Sui is the best way to preserve this "Chinese treasure".

Under Kong Jianwen's reminder, the dissection sped up again.

Professor Wu, the chief surgeon, kept switching the dissecting tools. He opened Mr. Sui's abdomen quickly and accurately, and then uncovered the organs one by one, and put them into special antiseptic containers.

"The preservation of the internal organs is also very good, basically complete."

"The appearance of the liver is clear, and the gallbladder is slightly swollen."

"The cause of the swelling has been found. There are more than [-] gallstones in the gallbladder."

"Well, there are residual lesions of pleurisy, pericarditis, and cholecystitis in the deceased's organs, all of which are chronic diseases of the elderly all year round."

"However, there are many things in the liver tissue that look like insect eggs. Most of the eggs that can survive in the liver are schistosomes or liver flukes."

"Wow, there is actually feces preserved in the rectum. This is a poop that has been simmering for 2000 years!"

"Hey, there are also some eggs in the intestines. The specific eggs will not be known until they are sent for testing."

Chen Han, who had been listening to the autopsy reports of the experts, chatted with the instructor in a low voice: "That... I remember that Mrs. Xin Zhui in Mawangdui also found schistosome eggs in her body."

"Now Mr. Sui also has schistosome eggs in his body."

"Does this mean that schistosomiasis was prevalent in the Lianghu area 2000 years ago and the records about the phenomenon of schistosomiasis recorded in our country's historical documents and ancient medical classics are accurate and correct?"

Kong Jianwen nodded: "Of course it is accurate!"

"Schistosomiasis was very frequent in the southern region during the Western Han Dynasty, and it was difficult for the poor to escape the disturbance."

"Xin Zhui, who is the wife of the prime minister of Changsha, has been recruited, and Mr. Sui, the fifth doctor, is obviously not immune."

Chen Han and Kong Jianwen were chatting together, and the team of medical experts on the dissecting table were also dissecting in a steady and orderly manner.

Under the leadership of the two professors, the dissection went very smoothly and quickly.

The dissection was successfully completed before the cells and tissues on Mr. Sui's body had time to come into close contact with the air for a while.

(End of this chapter)