Atlas of Acupuncture

1 Jing luo(Channel and Network Vessel System)

1.1.3 Distribution and Organisation of

the Channel and Network Vessel

(jing luo) System

According to the law of the Exterior–Interior (biao-li) the ‘Exterior’

communicates with the ‘Interior’.

Exterior (biao) corresponds to the skin, the muscles and the

pathways of the channel and network vessel superficial (jing

luo) system. The deeper pathways of the channels and the Organ

systems (zangfu) are attributed to the Interior (li). A particular

organisational structure within the jing luosystem is necessary

to safeguard the circulation of Qi and the communication

between the Exterior and the Interior. In this respect, the extra-

ordinary vessels play a special role. While they play a major role

in coordinating and regulating the primary channels and the jing

luosystem in general, they do not directly connect the Interior

and the Exterior. There is also no direct connection between the

extraordinary vessels and the zangfu-Organs (see ➞1.7 and

Chapter 5).

Depth organisation of the jing luosystem

Differing ideas exist regarding the depth at which the various

channels and vessels are located within the body. The table

below and Fig. 1.4 show the ideas according to Solinas et al.

(1998) and Deadman et al. (1998) in a modified way. While

these authors regard the deep, Interior pathways of the primary

and divergent channels as the deepest channel structures, other

authors attribute this role to the eight extraordinary vessels (for

the eight extraordinary vessels, see ➞1.7).

Overview over the possible location with regard to

depth of the jing luo system

Superficial

levels

Mid

levels

Deep

levels

Pi bu (cutaneous zones) xue luo

fu luo

xue luo

fu luo

sun luo

Yang primary channel

External pathway

Yin primary channel

Deep (internal) pathway

of the Yin primary channels

Deep (internal) pathway

of the Yang primary channels

he-confluence

sun luo

Yang sinew channels

Yin sinew channels

Longitudinal branch

of the yang luo mai

Longitudinal branch

of the yin luo mai

Transverse branches

of the yin luo mai

Transverse branches

of the yang luo mai

Yin divergent channel

Yang divergent channel

li

li

Yang

Yin

yuan-source point*

luo point

External pathway

zangfu-Organs * according to some authors to the of the Interiorly–Exteriorlypaired channelyuan-source point

Fig. 1.4 Illustration of the possible organisation of the jing luosystem (channel and network vessel system)

Levels Channel system

Superficial levels • 12 cutaneous regions

(skin and muscles) • Superficial luo-connecting vessels

(xue luo, fu luo, sun luo)

• 12 sinew channels (jing jin)
  Mid-levels • 15/16 luo-connecting vessels
  (luo mai)


• External pathways of the 12 primary
  channels


• External pathways of the 12 divergent
  channels (jing bie)


• Eight extraordinary vessels
  Deep levels • Deep (internal) pathways of the 12
  (zangfu-Organs) primary channels


• Deep (internal) pathways of the 12
  divergent channels

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