Point Locations for the twelve main acupuncture meridians and the extraordinary meridians: conception vessel & governing vessel.
Acupuncture Meridians:
| LU | LI |
ST |
SP |
HT |
SI | BL |
KI |
P |
TW |
GB |
LV |
CV |
GV |
Lung Meridian (LU)
The Hand Greater Yin (Tai Yin) of the Lung has 11 points
The lung channel of the Hand Taiyin originates from the lateral aspect of the chest near the arm pit . It then travels along the anterior-medial aspect of the upper arm, passing the cubital region and arrives at the radial side of the wrist containing the radial artery for pulse palpation. Passing the thenar eminence, it travels along the radial border of the palm ending at the medial side of the tip of the thumb.
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Large Intestine (LI)
The Hand Bright Yang (Yang MIng) of the Large Intestine 20 points
The large intestine channel of the Hang-Yangming starts from the tip of the index finger. Running upward along the radical aspect of the index finger, it passes through the inter-space of the first and second metacarpal bones, and ascends along the lateral anterior aspect of the upper arm to the highest point of the shoulder. It then travels along the anterior border of the acromion, then descends to the supraclavicular fossa. From the supraclavicular fossa it travels upward to the neck and to the cheek, then it curves around the upper lip and exits at the corner of the mouth, where it crosses the opposite large intestine channel of the Hand-Yangming at the philtrum. it ends at the side of the nose, where is connects with the stomach channel of the Foot-Yangming.
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Stomach Meridian (ST)
The Foot Bright Yang (Yang MIng) of the Stomach 45 points
The stomach channel of the Foot-Yangming starts directly below the pupil between the eyeball and the infraorbital ridge. Running downward along the lateral side of the nose, to the lateral corner of the mouth. Curving posterior to the anterior angle of the mandible. Then it travels to the posterior aspect of the mandible ascending in front of the ear and following the anterior hairline, it reaches the forehead. It then runs along the throat and enters the supraclavicular fossa. The straight line of the channels separates the supraclavicular fossa and runs downward along the middle mammillary line. It travels to the side of the umbilicus and descends to the inguinal groove. Running downward it travels along the anterior aspect of the thigh and reaches the knee. From there is continues further down along the anterior border of the lateral aspect of the tibia to the dorsum of the foot and reaches the lateral side of the tip of the second toe.
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Spleen Meridian (SP)
The Foot Greater Yin (Tai Yin) of the Spleen 21 points
The spleen of the Foot-Taiyin starts from the medial aspect of the tip of the big toe. It travels along the medial aspect of the foot at the junction between the red and white skin, ascends anteriorly to the medial malleolus up to the medial aspect of the leg. Passing through the anterior medial aspect of the thigh, it enters the inguinal region traveling along the anterior of the abdomen. It then curves lateral to the midline to the intercostal space up to the 2nd intercostal space. Then turns inferior to midway between the axilla and the free end of the eleventh rib.
View Spleen Meridian Point Locations.
Heart Meridian (HT, HE)
The Hand Lesser Yin (Shao Yin) of the Heart 9 points
The heart channel of the Hand-Shaoyin starts in the center of axilla. From there is goes along the posterior border of the medial aspect of the upper arm . Passing through the cubital region, it descends to the pisiform region proximal to the palm and enters the palm. Then it ends at the medial aspect of the tip of the little finger.
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Small Intestine Meridian (SI)
The Hand Greater Yang (Tai Yang) of the Small Intestine 19 points
The small intestine channel of the Hand-Taiyang starts at the ulnar aspect of the tip of the little finger, and travels along the ulnar border of the hand dorsum upward to the posterior border of the lateral aspect of the upper arm . It passes through the cubital region curving around the scapular region. Then turning downward to the supraclavicular fossa and ascends to the neck. Travels up to the cheek going through the outer canthus of the eye, and ends anterior to the tragus of the ear.
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Bladder Meridian (BL, UB)
The Foot Greater Yang (Tai Yang) of the Bladder 67 points
The urinary bladder channel of the Foot-Taiyang originates from the inner canthus of the eye. Passing through the forehead, it flows up to the vertex. It bifurcates above the posterior hairline into two lines. One line runs from the posterior aspect of the neck downward along the medial border of the scapula (3 cun lateral to the back mid-line). Passing through the gluteal region. Another line runs straight downward (1.5 cun lateral to the mid-line of the back) to the lumbar region. From there it descends along the posterior aspect of the thigh to the popliteal fossa. Descending to the posterior aspect of the gastrocnemius muscle and further to the posterior inferior aspect of the lateral malleolus. Ending at lateral posterior side of the tip of the little toe.
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Kidney Meridian (KI)
The Foot Lesser Yin (Shao Yin) of the Kidney 27 points
The kidney channel of the Foot-Shaoyin starts from the interior aspect of the little toe (On the sole of the foot, depending on the text.), and runs through a depression in the lower aspect of the tuberosity of the navicular bone. It travels behind the medial malleolus and encircles the malleolus. Ascending along the medial side of the leg, it passes the medial side of the popliteal fossa and goes further upward along the posterior-medial aspect of the thigh. Traveling to the superior border of the symphysis pubis forming a straight line 0.5 cun from the midline. It ascends diverging at the diaphragm, ending In a depression on lower border of clavicle 2 cun from the midline.
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Pericardium Meridian (P, PC)
The Hand Terminal Yin (Jue Yin) of the Pericardium 9 points
The pericardium channel of the Hand-Jueyin originates in the chest lateral to the nipple. It then ascends to the axillary fossa and runs along the medial aspect of the upper arm, passing through the cubital fossa. It goes further downward to the forearm between the tendons of the m. palmaris longus and m. flexor carpi radialis. It enters the palm and passes along the middle finger to its tip.
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Triple Warmer (San Jiao) Meridian (TW, TB, SJ)
The Hand Lesser Yang (Shao Yang) of the San Jiao 23 points
The sanjiao channel of the Hand-Shaoyang originates from the tip of the ring finger. It travels upward between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones and along the dorsal side of the wrist and the lateral side of the forearm between the radius and ulna, it passes through the olecranon. Then it runs along the lateral aspect of the upper arm and reaches the shoulder region. Crossing over the shoulder, it enters the supraclavicular fossa. It then ascends to the neck, running along the posterior border of the ear. It crosses from the superior aspect of the ear to the corner of the forehead. Then it turns downward to the cheek and terminates In the depression at the lateral end of the eyebrow.
View Triple Warmer Point Locations.
Gall Bladder Meridian (GB)
The Foot Lesser Yang (Shao Yang) of the Gall bladder 44 points
The gall bladder channel of the Foot-Shaoyang starts from the outer canthus of the eye, and desends to the anterior aspect of the ear. Then ascends to the corner of the forehead, and then winds downward posterior to th ear. Then arches forward to the forehead at the midpoint of the eyebrow. It then runs above the hairline to the lateral side of the neck. Travels highest point of the trapezius muscle. From there it further descends to the axilla and enters the chest. It then travels interiorly in the hypochondriac region, emerging at the lateral side of the lower abdomen near the femoral artery in the inguinal region. Then it curves along the margin of the public hair and runs transversely into the hip region. It then travels downward along the lateral side of thigh to the lateral side of the knee. Further descending along the anterior aspect of the fibula, it reaches the lower end of the fibula, and the anterior aspect of the lateral malleolus. Following the dorsum of the foot, it terminates at the lateral side of the fourth toe's tip.
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Liver Meridian (LV)
The Foot Terminal Yin (Jue Yin) of the Liver 14 points
The liver channel of the Foot-Jueyin originates on the lateral side of the great toe. Ascending along the dorsum of the foot, it flows further upward to the anterior aspect of the medial malleolus. Then it runs upward to the medial side of the knee and along the medial aspect of the thigh into the pubic region. From there it curves around the external genitalia and crosses the midline up to the lower abdomen. Ending directly below the nipple.
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Conception Vessel Meridian (CV, Ren)
The Directing Channel has 28 points
The Ren channel starts on the midline between the anus and the scrotum in males. Between the anus and the posterior labial commissure in females. It ascends anteriorly to the public region. Along the midline of the abdomen, it flows upward reaches the throat. Flowing further upward, it ends in the depression in the center of the mentolabial groove.
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Governing Vessel Meridian (GV, Du)
The Governing Channel has 28 points
The Du channel starts midway between the tip of the coccyx bone and the anus with patient lying prone. It then flows upward inside the spinal column to the nape of the neck, and ascends to the vertex. Along the forehead, it descends to the nose bridge, then to the lips. Ending at the labial frenulum inside the upper lip.
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