Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

Pathway

The Stomach primary channel begins with an internalbranch at

the Yang axes connection of the first great circuit (yangming,

hand–foot pairing) at ➞LI-20(yingxiang) lateral to the ala nasi

➡travels internallyto ➞BL-1(jingming) at the inner canthus

of the eye

➡emerges at the infraorbital ridge at ST-1(chengqi), the begin-

ning of the external part of the primary channel

➡descends laterally along the nose and entersthe gums of the

upper jaw

➡meets the contralateral Stomach primary channel and the du

maiat ➞Du-26(renzhong) and emerges again

➡curves around the lips to meet the ren maiand again the con-

tralateral Stomach channel at ➞Ren-24(chengjiang)

➡traverses the lower cheek and winds around the lower angle

of the mandible.

Here, at ➞ST-5(daying), the external channel divides into two

branches:

➡One branchascends anterior to the ear, travels via ➞G.B.-3

(shangguan), ➞G.B.-6(xuanli), ➞G.B.-5(xuanlu) and

➞G.B.-4(hanyan) to the temporal region to ➞ST-8(touwei)

and continues to the forehead to meet ➞Du-24(shenting),

where it terminates.

➡The other external branchdescends along the lateral aspect

of the neck to the supraclavicular fossa and travels posteriorly

over the back of the neck to ➞Du-14(dazhui) below the

spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra, where it meets

the other five Yang primary channels.

An internal branchdescends from the supraclavicular fossa,

passes the diaphragm, enters first its pertaining fu-Organ, the

Stomach (wei) and then connects with its paired zang-Organ, the

Spleen (pi). Minor branches of the internalchannel intersect

with ➞ Ren-13 (shangwan), ➞ Ren-12 (zhongwan) and

➞Ren-10(xiawan). The internal branch then descends towards

the inguinal region where it emerges slightly superior to ST-30

(qichong) and reconnects with the externalbranch.

➡The externalchannel descends from the supraclavicular fossa,

crosses the nipple and laterally passes the umbilicus, travels in

a curve to the leg and knee, continues along the anterior crest of

the tibia and the dorsum of the foot and terminates on the sec-

ond toe at ➞ST-45(lidui) at the lateral corner of the nail.

➡An internal branch originates below the knee area at

➞ST-36(zusanli) and travels to the lateral aspect of the mid-

dle toe.

➡A further branch separates from the primary channel at

➞ST-42(chongyang) on the dorsum of the foot and connects

at ➞SP-1(yinbai) with its paired SP channel on the medial

aspect of the big toe (foot Yin–Yang connection of the first

great circuit).

Clinical importance (➞1.2)

Exterior (biao) signs and symptoms: High fever, malaria,

flushed face, sweating, confused mental state, aversion to cold,

eye pain, dry nasal passages, nosebleeds, dry lips and mouth,

lesions of the lips and mouth, sore and swollen throat, thoracic

pain, red and swollen legs

Interior (li) or zangfu-Organ signs and symptoms:Abdomi-

nal distension, sensation of fullness, oedema, irritability during

work and rest, mania and epilepsy, hyperpepsinia, constant

hunger, yellow urine

Excess (shi):Heat sensations on the anterior aspect of the body,

constant hunger, yellow urine

Deficiency (xu):Cold sensations on the anterior aspect of the

body, chills, Stomach Cold with distension and fullness

Connections and meeting points of the

Stomach primary channel (➞1.2)

Connections with other channels

Spleen primary channel (zu tai yin jing)

Connection:Foot Yin–Yang connection of the first great circuit

Location: ST-42➞SP-1(on the foot).

Circulation:Circadian (according to the Organ clock)

Importance:Exterior–Interior relationship

Large Intestine primary channel (shou yang ming jing)

Connection: Paired according to the six channel theory

(hand–foot pairing): yang ming(Yang axes of the first great

circuit)

Location: L.I.-20➞(BL-1)➞ST-1(on the head)

Circulation:Circadian (according to the Organ clock)

Importance:Above–below relationship

Connections with otherzangfu-Organ systems

Stomach (wei), Spleen (pi)

Temporalis

ST-9

Zygomatic

arch

ST-5

ST-2

ST-3

ST-4

ST-7

Masseter

ST-8

ST-1

ST-6 Mandibular

angle

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