Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

4.2.3 The Large Intestine Sinew

Channel (shou yang ming jing jin)

Pathway

The Large Intestine sinew channel

➡begins on the index finger at ➞L.I.-1(shangyang)

➡runs along the index finger and the 2nd metacarpal bone

towards the wrist, where it binds (jie) at ➞L.I.-5(yangxi)

➡travels along the posterolateral aspect of the forearm

➡reaches the elbow and binds (jie) at ➞L.I.-11(quchi)

➡continues along the lateral aspect of the upper arm and the

deltoid muscle to the shoulder, where it binds (jie) again at

➞L.I.-15(jianyu)

➡from L.I.-15a branch spreads across the scapula and then

attaches to the spine between the 7th cervical vertebra and the

5th thoracic vertebra (or between ➞Du-14(dazhui) and

➞Du-11(shendao).

➡The main branchascends from L.I.-15, crosses the supra-

clavicular fossa and continues from there along the lateral

aspect of the neck towards the angle of the jaw where it binds

(jie).

Here it forks into two branches:

➡One branchruns across the zygomatic bone towards the lat-

eral side of the nose

➡The other branchascends the lateral aspect of the face and

anterior to the Small Intestine sinew channel, connects at

➞G.B.-13(benshen) with the other sinew Yang channels,

crosses over the head and ends at the lower jaw on the

opposite side.

Note:According to some schools of thought, the sinew channel

only ends at ➞L.I.-17(tianding; Solinas et al. 1998).

Clinical importance

Pathology:cramps, pain, tension and stiffness along the Large

Intestine sinew channel. Limited range of motion of the upper limbs

and shoulders. Occipital pain, stiffness and limited range of motion.

Indication:Mainly for bi-syndrome (painful obstruction syn-

drome) along the Large Intestine channel. The area covered by the

Large Intestine sinew channel is larger than that covered by the

Large Intestine primary channel. This explains why the indications

of points on the Large Intestine primary channel include disorders

and diseases of the upper neck and thoracic region as well as of the

whole face (for example frontal and temporal headaches).

L.I.-15

G.B.-13

(Meeting point of the

3 sinew hand Yang

channels)

C7

T5

L.I.-15

L.I.-11

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