Atlas of Acupuncture

3.4 Spine and Sacroiliac Region

3.4.4 Sacrum and Sacroiliac Joint

Sacrum (
Figs 3.75, 3.76)

On the sacrum, landmarks for palpation are the median sacral

crest and the sacral hiatus as well as the sacral foramina on its

lateral aspects.

Sacral crest (
Figs 3.74, 3.75)

The sacral crest is formed by the narrow, irregular spinous

processes, which can be palpated on the sacral midline.

Sacral hiatus (
Figs 3.75, 3.76)

The sacral hiatus can be palpated as a U-shaped depression at

the inferior end of the sacral crest. 
Du-2is located on the mid-

line, just inferior to it. Both the sacral hiatus and the greater

trochanter (
Lower extremity) are reference points for locating


G.B.-30.

Sacral foramina (
Figs 3.75, 3.76)

The sacral foramina are located between the lumbosacral joint

and the sacral hiatus and can usually be palpated. They are in

most cases evenly spaced and lie approximately 1 finger-width

lateral to the midline, with the distance decreasing in a distal

direction. The foramina are the location of 
BL-31–BL-34.

Median sacral

crest

Sacral hiatus

Sacral foramina

Sacral crest

BL-34

BL-33

BL-32

BL-31

Sacral hiatus

Fingers on the

1st to 4th sacral

foramina

Fig. 3.75

Fig. 3.76

Sacral hiatus

Fingers on the

1st to 4th sacral

foramina

Du-2

2/3

1/3

Sacral

hiatus

Highest prominence of

the greater trochanter

G.B.-30

Fig. 3.77

Fig. 3.78