Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

4.4.3 The Spleen Sinew Channel

(zu tai yin jing jin)

Clinical importance

● Pathology:Distending pain of the big toe, pain at the medial

malleolus, cramps and pain in the calves, pain of the medial

aspect of the knees and thighs, pain in the inguinal and geni-

tal region (radiating to the umbilicus, thorax and back).

● Indication:Mainly for bi-syndromes (Painful Obstruction

Syndrome) and wei-syndrome (atrophy syndrome) along the

Spleen channel, especially along the medial aspect of the leg.

The area covered by the Spleen sinew channel is larger than

that covered by the Spleen primary channel. This explains why

Spleen primary channel points can also be used for disorders

and diseases of the external genitalia and the umbilical region.

4.4.4 The Spleen luo-Connecting

Vessel System (zu tai yin luo mai)

Ren-3

SP-5

SP-9

Ren-3(Meeting point

of the three foot Yin

sinew channels)

T 11

(BL-20)

a b

Pathway

The Spleen sinew channel begins on the medial aspect of the

big toe at SP-1(yinbai)

➡runs along the medial border of the foot

➡binds (jie) anterior to the medial malleolus at SP-5(shangqiu)

➡ascends along the medial aspect of the tibia to SP-9(yin-

lingquan) and binds (jie) anterior to the medial head of the tibia

➡runs along the medial aspect of the thigh and binds (jie) on

the medial aspect of the inguinal region

➡continues to ➞Ren-3(zhongji) where it meets the other sinew

channels of the foot Yin channels

At ➞Ren-3the sinew channel separates into three branches:

● One branchruns to the genital region

● A further branchascends along the anterior midline, cover-

ing the ren maiand binding (jie) at the umbilical region. It

penetrates the abdomen and spreads in the costal and thoracic

region.

● A third branch penetrates deeper into the body and ends at

the spinal region at ➞BL-20(pishu).

SP-4

ab

SP-21

Pathway

The Spleen luo-connecting channel separates from the Spleen

primary channel at its luo-connecting point SP-4(gongsun)

(➞ 8.1.2). It forms a three-dimensional reticulate network,

dividing into multiple branches and sub-branches (sun luo, fu

luo, xue luo➞1.5) within the surrounding tissue.

➡Horizontal divisions run to the Interiorly–Exteriorly paired

Stomach primary channel, according to some schools of thought

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