Atlas of Acupuncture

4 Acupuncture Points of the Twelve Primary Channels

The external pathwayruns proximally between the 1st and 2nd

metatarsal bones

➡ascends anterior to the medial malleolus

➡crosses the SP channel at ➞SP-6(yinlingquan) on the medial

aspect of the lower leg

➡ascends the medial aspect of the leg towards the knee anterior

to the SP channel

➡continues along the medial aspect of the thigh to the pubic

region, where it passes ➞SP-12(chongmen) and ➞SP-13

(fushe)

➡circles the external genitalia

➡ascends the lower abdomen, passing ➞ Ren-2 (qugu),

➞Ren-3(zhongji) and ➞Ren-4(guanyuan)

➡obliquely traverses the abdomen to LIV-13(zhangmen) at the

free end of the 11th rib and to LIV-14(qimen), where the

external pathwayterminates.

At LIV-13, the channel enters the abdomen, marking the begin-

ning of the internal pathway. It

➡circles the Stomach (wei)

➡connects with its pertaining zang-Organ, the Liver (gan) and

its paired fu-Organ, the Gall Bladder (dan)

➡penetrates the diaphragm

➡spreads in the lateral hypochondrium and thoracic region.

The channel then ascends along the posterior aspect of the tra-

chea to the throat and nasopharynx and connects with the eye

system and the brain. It crosses the forehead and ascends to the

vertex, where it connects with the extraordinary vessel du maiat

➞Du-20(baihui).

An internal branchdescends from the maxillary sinus to the

cheek and circles the inner surfaceof the lips.

An internal branch emerges from the Liver, penetrates the

diaphragm, disperses in the Lung (fei) and meets the Lung primary

channel (deep Yin–Yin connection), closing the first circuit of the

Nutritive Qi (ying qi) (➞1.1.4). This branch further connects with

the Pericardium primary channel beneath ➞P-1(tianchi) (hand–

foot pairing of the third great circuit: Yin axes, jue yin).

Clinical importance (➞1.2)

Exterior (biao) signs and symptoms:Headaches, dizziness,

blurred vision, tinnitus, fever, spastic extremities

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

fullness and pain in the costal region, tightness and fullness in the

chest, abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhoea, shandisor-

der, enuresis, urinary retention, yellow urine

Connections of the Liver primary channel

(➞1.2)

Connections with other channels

Gall Bladder primary channel (zu shao yang jing)

Connection:Foot Yin–Yang pairing 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

Pericardium primary channel (shou jue yin jing)

Connection: Paired according to the six-channel theory

(hand–foot pairing): jue yin(Yin axes of the third great circuit)

Location:LIV ➞P. An internal branch originating in the Liver

penetrates the diaphragm and connects with the Pericardium pri-

mary channel beneath ➞P-1.

Circulation: Non-circadian (not according to the Organ clock)

Importance: Above–below relationship

Lung primary channel (shou tai yin jing)

Connection:Deep Yin–Yin connection

Location: LIV➞LU(in the thorax). An internal branch origi-

nating in the Liver penetrates the diaphragm and disperses in the

Lung to connect with the Lung primary channel.

Circulation:Circadian (according to the Organ clock)

Importance:The Lung primary channel receives part of its

Nutritive Qi (ying qi) from the Liver primary channel (first cir-

culation of the ying qi➞1.1.4).

Connections with zangfu-Organ systems

Stomach (wei), Liver (gan), Gall Bladder (dan), Lung (fei)

LIV-13

ST-18

G.B.-24

LIV-14

Mamillary

Sternum line

Manubrium

Manubriosternal

synchondrosis

LIV-14

LIV-13

5th intercostal space6th intercostal space

7th intercostal space

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