Atlas of Acupuncture

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

Location

1.5 cun lateral to the posterior midline, on the level of the lower

border of the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra (T1,

with hanging shoulders on the level of the acromion).

How to find

First, locate the spinous process of C7 (➞3.4.1). The next spin-

ous process inferior to this belongs to the T1. Locate BL-111.5

cun lateral to the lower border of T1, at the highest point of the

paraspinal musculature.

Located on the same level are ➞Du-13(on the midline), a point

of ➞Ex-B-2(0.5 cun lateral to the midline) and ➞S.I.-14

(3 cun lateral to the midline).

Needling

0.5–1 cun obliquely towards the spine or transversely (subcuta-

neously). Caution: Pneumothorax.

Actions/Indications

● Expels pathogenic factors (Wind-Heat)

● Regulates the Lung Qi

● Opens the channel, benefits the bones and joints

Special features

Hui-meeting point with the bones; meeting point with the S.I.

channel, according to some authors also with the T.B., G.B. chan-

nels and the du mai; Sea of Blood point.

Great Shuttle DAZHU BL-11

Spinous process C7

Spinous process T1

Spinous process T12

Midline

Spinous process T3

Spinous process T7

1.5

cun

Base of the

scapular spine

Inferior

angle of

the scapula

1.5

cun

Bladder channel,

lateral branch

Bladder channel,

medial branch

Medial borderof the scapula

BL-11

15

14

12

44

42

1 2 3 4 5 6

S.I.-12

S.I.-10

11 13

13

11

S.I.-15

Du-14

Extension and

flexion of the head

S.I.-15

G.B.-21

Finger on the

spinous processes

of C6 and 7

Spinous process C7

Spinous process T1

Base of the

scapular spine

Du-13

Levator

scapulae

S.I.-14

Spinous process T1 S.I.-13

Spinous process C7

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