Atlas of Acupuncture

4.11 Gall Bladder Channel System – Foot shaoyang(zu shao yang jing luo)

➞ST-12(quepen) in the supraclavicular fossa, where the latter

divides into 2 branches:

➡The inner branchenters the thorax, meets the Pericardium

primary channel at ➞ P-1 (tianchi), runs across the

diaphragm, connects with the Liver (gan) and the Gall Blad-

der (dan), traverses the hypochondrium and continues to the

lower abdomen, enters the lumbar region near the femoral

artery, according to Solinas et al (1998) via ➞ ST-30

(qichong), and continues along the pubic hairline to the hip.

➡The outer branchdescends superficially from the supraclavi-

cular fossa, crosses the midaxillary line and continues along

the lateral thoracic wall, passing ➞LIV-13(zhangmen) at the

free end of the 11th rib and continuing to the hip to G.B.-29

(juliao). It then traverses the sacral region, passing ➞BL-31

(shangliao), ➞BL-32(ciliao), ➞BL-33(zhongliao) and

➞BL-34(xialiao) over the sacral foramina and continues to

➞Du-1 (changqiang). From there, it travels laterally to

G.B.-30(huantiao), where it reconnects with the main branch

(➞see comment below*).

The external pathwaydescends along the lateral aspect of the

thigh to the knee and further along the anterior/posterior border

of the fibula, passing the anterior aspect of the lateral malleolus

and ending at the ulnar corner of the nail of the fourth toe.

A further branch originates at G.B.-41(zulinqi) on the dorsum

of the foot and travels between the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones

to the tip of the big toe and LIV-1(dadun), where it joins the

LIV channel.

Clinical importance (➞1.2)

Exterior (biao)signs and symptoms:Alternating fevers and

chills, headaches, eye pain, pain in the cheek and on the chin,

subaxillary swellings, deafness, lateral knee and leg pain

Interior (li)or zangfu-Organ signs and symptoms:Pain in the

lateral costal region, vomiting, bitter taste in the mouth, thoracic

pain

Connections of the Gall Bladder primary

channel (➞1.2)

Connections with other channels (➞1.2)

Liver primary channel (zu jue yin jing)

Connection:Foot Yin–Yang pair of the third great circuit

Location: G.B.-41 ➞LIV-1(on the foot)

Circulation:Circadian (according to the Organ clock)

Importance:Exterior–Interior relationship

Triple Burner primary channel (shou shao yang jing)

Connection:Hand–foot pairing of the third great circuit: shaoyang

(Yang axes)

Location: T.B.-23 (or T.B.-22, according to some authors)

➞G.B.-1(on the head)

Circulation:Circadian (according to the Organ clock)

Importance:Above–below relationship

Connections with zangfu-Organ systems

Liver (gan), Gall Bladder (dan)

4.11.2 The Gall Bladder Divergent

Channel (zu shao yang jing bie)

G.B.-1

(2nd confluence)

LIV-13

G.B.-30 Ren-2

(Brain*) (* Variant)

(Variant:

Thigh region)

Pathway

The Gall Bladder Divergent channel separates from the Gall Blad-

der primary channel near G.B.-30(huantiao); according to some

authors, it separates on the thigh (➞variant in the illustration)

➡traverses the hip region to the anterior aspect of the body

➡reaches the inguinal region and crosses the Liver divergent

channel at ➞Ren-2(qugu)

➡ascends the abdomen to LIV-13(zhangmen) below the free

end of the 11th rib

➡continues internally along the thoracic wall

➡connects with the Gall Bladder (dan) and the Liver (gan) and

passes the Heart (xin)

➡ascends to the neck

➡emerges on the lower jaw

* Not all authors describe the pathway of the G.B. channel as passing the points

BL-31to BL-34and Du-1(see figure for variant pathway).

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