Atlas of Acupuncture

5 The Eight Extraordinary Vessels (qi jing ba mai) with Points

Location

On the anterior midline, on the level of the sternocostal angle.

How to find

Ren-16is located on the level of the sternocostal angle, where

the two lower borders of the ribcage (➞3.5) meet. To locate this

point, palpate upward along the lower borders of the ribcage

with one hand on either side until the palpating fingers meet at

the sternocostal angle. Here, locate Ren-16in a shallow depres-

sion between the sternum and the xiphoid process.

Located on the same level (approximately the 5th intercostal space)

are ➞KID-22(2 cun lateral to the midline), ➞ST-18(4 cun lateral

to the midline) and ➞SP-17(6 cun lateral to the midline).

Needling

0.5 cun transversely (subcutaneously) in a superior or inferior

direction. Caution: Danger of heart injury in patients with a split

xiphoid process or a sternal foramen. Therefore, only transverse

needling is recommended.

Actions/Indications

● Unbinds the chest

● Regulates the Stomach and counterflow Stomach Qi

Ren-16 Central Courtyard ZHONGTING

2nd rib

Coracoid process

Xiphoid

process

11th rib

Free end of

the 11th rib

Free end of

the 12th rib

Sternocostal

angle

Manubriosternal

synchondrosis

KID-24

KID-23

KID-22

Ren-17

5th intercostal space

Sterno-

costal

angle

Ren-16

18

16

18

15

25

24

(^2218)
16
17
22
19
8
17
12
LIV-14
G.B.-24
16
LIV-13
15
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Umbilicus
1
Sterno-
costal
angle
ST-18
Sternocostal
angle
SP-17
6 cun
5th intercostal
space
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