Atlas of Acupuncture

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

Location

3 cun lateral to the posterior midline, on the level of the 4th

sacral foramen, approximately at the centre of the buttock.

How to find

For details on orientation in the lumbar and sacral region, see

➞3.4.3, 3.4.4. First, locate L5. Inferior to it, the next palpable

bony structure is the highest point on the medial sacral crest

(
sacral spinous processes). Palpate downward for 3 more

bony elevations and locate the depression of the 4th sacral foramen

less than 1 cun lateral to it. This is on the level of BL-54, located

3 cun lateral to the midline. For further reference: The 4th sacral

foramen is mostly level with the superior end of the rima ani.

Located on the same level are ➞BL-34(over the 4th sacral fora-

men) and ➞BL-30(1.5 cun lateral to the midline).

Needling

Vertically 1.5–2 cun or 2–3 cun in the direction of the anus or the

genital region, depending on the indication.

Actions/Indications

● Opens the channel and luovessels, eliminates stagnation

● Regulates urination

● Eliminates haemorrhoids

Special features

Important local point

Order’s Limit ZHIBIAN BL-54

Midline

3 cun

BL-54

Level of the

iliac crests

Spinous process L4

Spinous process L5

Sacral

foramina

Du-3

Spinous process L4

Level of the

iliac crests

BL-23

BL-52

Du-4

Tuffier‘s line

Sacral foramen 1

2

3

4

BL-31

BL-32

BL-33

BL-34

Sacral

foramina

BL-30

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