Atlas of Acupuncture

4.7 The Bladder Channel System – Foot taiyang(zu tai yang jing luo)

and soleus muscles and binds (jie) on either side of the

popliteal crease, ascends the posterior aspect of the thigh and

binds (jie) at the centre of the gluteal crease, ascends as a

broad band along the spine and binds (jie) at BL-10(tianzhu).

Two branchesseparate from the main branch in the thoracic

region at the level of the axilla:

➡one branchascends to the shoulder and reaches ➞L.I.-15

(jianyu)

➡the other branchpenetrates the axilla, ascends the thorax

and runs to the supraclavicular fossa, where again two sub-

branchesseparate:

● one sub-branchascends to the mastoid process to ➞G.B.-12

(wangu)

● the other sub-branchcrosses the cheek to ➞S.I.-18(quan-

liao) where it meets with the other foot Yang sinew channels

The main branchdivides at BL-10(tianzhu) into two branches:

➡one branchpenetrates deeper to the root of the tongue

➡the other branchcrosses the head lateral to the midline,

reaches the inner canthus of the eye and separates into two

branches:

● one branchbinds (jie) lateral to the nose and descends the

cheek

● the other branchcrosses the upper eyelid and connects with

the Stomach sinew channel, together forming a network

around the eye. It then penetrates deeper into the upper orbital

region and ends at the roof of the mouth.

Clinical importance

Pathology:Muscular cramping in the region of the little toe.

Tension and pain in the heel. Stiffness and limited range of

motion of the joints. Tension and stiffness in the back and along

the spine, and difficulty when bending forward. Inability to lift

the arms above the shoulder region. Stiffness or distending pain

in the axillary region. Pain and tense musculature in the supra-

clavicular fossa. Limited range of motion of the cervical spine.

Indication: Mainly with bi-syndromes (painful obstruction

syndrome) along the Bladder channel. The area covered by the

Bladder sinew channel is larger than that covered by the Bladder

primary channel. This explains why Bladder primary channel

points can also be used for disorders of the scapula and the

shoulder region as well as for disorders of the lower eyelid and

the nasal region.

4.7.4 The Bladder luo-Connecting Vessel

System (zu tai yang luo mai)

BL-58

Pathway

The Bladder luo-connecting channel separates from the Bladder

primary channel at BL-58(feiyang) (➞8.1.2). It forms a three-

dimensional reticular network, dividing into multiple branches

and sub-branches (sun luo,fu luo,xue luo➞1.5) within the sur-

rounding tissue.

● Horizontal divisions run to the Interiorly–Exteriorly paired

Kidney primary channel; according to some schools of thought

(for example Nguyen Van Nghi ➞Appendix) they travel as a

transverse BL luo-connecting vessel to the yuan-source

point ➞KID-3(taixi).

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