Atlas of Acupuncture

3 Anatomical Orientation

Anterior wrist joint space (‘most distal wrist

crease’) (
Figs 3.61, 3.62)

Chinese textbooks on acupuncture use the most distal wrist

crease as a reference for points around the wrist joint. However,

since the location of the crease can vary, the space between the

proximal row of the carpals and the ulna/radius should be used

instead. By gently moving the wrist joint, the space can be

clearly felt.

In the proximal row of the carpal bones, the prominent pisiform

bone marks the ulnar end, its proximal border serving as a bony

landmark for locating the anterior wrist joint space. 
HE-7,

P-7and LU-9are all located here.

Pisiform bone and tendon of the flexor

carpi ulnaris muscle (
Fig. 3.62)

The pisiform bone is an important reference point on the ulnar

aspect of the wrist joint. Here the insertion of the tendon of the

flexor carpi ulnaris muscle marks the location of several points

on the Heart channel: 
HE-7 – HE-4are lined up on the radial

aspect of the tendon.

Tendon of the

flexor carpi

ulnaris

Pisiform HE-7 Joint space

P-7

HE-4

1,5 cun

HE-7

Joint space

Radial artery

LU-9

Carpal bones

Abductor

pollicis longus

1 cunLU-8

Fig. 3.60

Tendon of the

flexor carpi

ulnaris

Abductor

digiti minimi

Tendon sheath of

the flexor carpi

radialis

Opponens

pollicis

Flexor pollicis

brevis

Abductor

pollicis

brevis

Tendon of the

flexor carpi

ulnaris

Pisiform HE-7

Wrist joint space

P-7 LU-9

Tendon of the

flexor carpi

radialis

Tendon of the

palmaris longus

Fig. 3.61

Fig. 3.62