Atlas of Acupuncture

6.5 Extra Points: Lower Extremities (EX-LE)

Location

With the knee flexed, this pair of points is located inferior to the

patella, medial and lateral to the patellar ligament. Ex-LE-5

(xiyan) includes two points: the medial eye of the knee corre-

sponds to ➞Ex-LE-4(neixiyan), the lateral eye of the knee to

ST-35(dubi).

How to find

This point is best located with the patient’s knee flexed (use knee

support). The eyes of the knee can be located on the level of the

lower border of the patella, lateral and medial to the patellar

ligament. The lateral eye of the knee corresponds to ➞ST-35

(dubi), the medial eye of the knee to ➞Ex-LE-4(neixiyan).

Together, these two points form the extra point Ex-LE-5(xiyan).

Needling

Medial eye of the knee: 0.5–1 cun vertically or obliquely towards

the lateral eye of the knee; lateral eye of the knee: 0.5–1 cun ver-

tically or obliquely towards the medial eye of the knee. Caution:

Do not needle too deeply to avoid intra-articular puncture (these

points correspond to the incision sites for knee arthroscopy).

Actions/Indications

● Eliminate Wind-Dampness, reduce swellings and alleviate pain

Special features

Important local points for disorders of the knee

Eyes of the Knee XIYAN Ex-LE-5

Level of the lower

patellar border

Patellar ligament

Ex-LE-5

(xiyan)

corresponds

to ST-35

corresponds to

Ex-LE-4

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