Atlas of Acupuncture

4.5 The Heart Channel System – Hand shaoyin(shou shao yin jing luo)

4.5 The Heart Channel System –

Handshaoyin(shou shao yin

jing luo)

4.5.1 The Heart Primary Channel

(shou shao yin jing)

the Spleen primary channel reaches the Heart and connects with the

Heart primary channel (deep Yin–Yin connection ➞1.2).

The internal pathwayof the Heart primary channel splits into

three branches:

➡the first branchpenetrates the diaphragm and connects with

the internally–externally related fu-Organ, the Small Intestine

(xiaochang)

➡the second branchascends along the oesophagus and the

neck region, disperses in the tissues around the eyes and,

according to some authors, also spreads inside the brain.

➡the main branchruns from the Heart to the Lung (fei) and

descends again to emerge in the centre of the axilla at ➞HE-1

(jiquan) (beginning of the external pathway).

From here the external pathwayruns along the anteromedial

aspect of the upper arm and forearm, traverses the palm

between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones, continues along

the radial aspect of the little finger and ends at the radial corner

of its nail at HE-9(shaoyang).

From HE-9(shaoyang) a branch crosses to the ulnar border of

the little finger’s nail to ➞S.I.-1(shaoze) (hand Yin–Yang con-

nection of the second great circuit).

Clinical importance (➞1.2)

Exterior (biao) signs and symptoms: General fever, headaches,

pain in the thorax and back, thirst with a desire to drink, Heat

sensation in the palms, Cold invasion in the extremities, pain in

the shoulder and the medial aspect of the upper arm

Interior (li) or zangfu-Organ signs and symptoms:Heart

pain, pain and fullness in the thorax and lateral costal region,

2

3

4

7

8

HE-1

HE-9

HE-7^6

HE-4 5

HE-3

HE-2

HE-1

1

32

4

65

7

98

1110

cun^12

1 2 3 4 5 6

87

9 cun

Wrist

crease

Pisiform

Tendon

of the flexor

carpi ulnaris

0.5 cun0.5 cun

0.5 cun HE-4

HE-6

HE-7

HE-8

HE-5

Flexor

carpi

ulnaris Right hand

Cubital crease Palm

Wrist

joint

space

Pathway

The internalpathway of the Heart primary channel originates in

its related zang-Organ, the Heart (xin). An internal branchof

HE-7

Radius Ulna

Tendon of

the flexor

carpi ulnaris

HE-7

HE-8

HE-9

HE-9

Palm

Right hand

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