Atlas of Acupuncture

4.12 The Liver Channel System – Foot jueyin(zu jue yin jing luo)

Location

Anterior and inferior to the free end of the 11th rib, approxi-

mately 1 cun superior to the umbilicus.

How to find

Quick method:Ask the patient to press their flexed elbow (90°)

against the lateral aspect of the thorax and the tip of the olecra-

non will be pointing to the free end of the 11th rib. LIV-13can

then be located on its anterior and inferior border. Or:Place the

hand on the upper abdomen and, with gentle pressure, palpate

along the lower border of the rib cage until you can feel the free

end of the 11th rib just superior to the umbilicus. Locate LIV-13

on its anterior and inferior border.

Located on approximately the same level (1 cun superior to the

umbilicus) are ➞Ren-9(on the midline) and ➞ST-24(2 cun lat-

eral to the midline). ➞G.B.-25is located more laterally and

inferiorly, at the free end of the 12th rib.

Needling

0.5–1 cun vertically or better obliquely in a lateral direction.

Caution: Peritoneum, hypertrophied organs (right: liver, left:

spleen).

Actions/Indications

● Harmonises the Liver and the Spleen, regulates Liver Qi

(especially in the Middle and Lower Burner), strengthens the

Spleen

● Opens the channel

Special features

Front-mupoint of the Spleen, meeting point with the dai maiand

the G.B. channel. Hui-meeting point of the zang-Organs.

Completion Gate ZHANGMEN LIV-13

11th rib

LIV-13

Tip of the olecranon

resting on the free

end of the 11th rib

Tip of the olecranon

resting on the free

end of the 11th rib

Ren-9

Umbilicus Ren-8

1 cun

18

16

18

15

25

24

(^2218)
16
17
22
8
17
12
LIV-14
G.B-24
16
Le 13
14
15
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Umbilicus
1
Sternocostal
angle
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