LOCATION TIPS:  SOURCE AND LUO POINTS[1]

 

 

 

SOURCE POINT

 

 

LOCATION TIPS

LU -9

Tai yuan ( Great Abyss)

Location:  At the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression of the radial side of the radial artery.  In the depression distal to the styloid process of the radius lateral to the scaphoid bone and medial to the tendon abuctor pollicis longus.

Classical Location:  At the pulsating vessel, at the inside extremity of the crease behind the hand. (The Golden Mirror)

Local Anatomy:  The radial artery and vein.  The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of the radial nerve.

Tip:  Abduct (spread) fingers.

 

LI –4

He gu (Union Valley)

Location: In the center of the flesh between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones, slightly closer to the 2nd metacarpal bone.  Classical Location:  In the depression where the index finger and thumb bones part.  (The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  The venous network of the dorsum of the hand; proximally, exactly on the radial artery piercing from the dorsum to the palm of the hand.  The superficial ramus of the radial nerve; deeper, the palmar digital proprial nerve derived from the median nerve.

Tip:  If the transverse crease of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb of one hand is lined up with the margin of the web between the thumb and the index finger of the other hand, the point is where the tip of the thumb touches.

 

ST –42

Chong yang (Surging Yang)

Location:  At the highest point of the dorsum of the foot, in the depression between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones that continues between intermediate and lateral cunieform bones just distal to the navicular bones.

Classical Location:  5: from the tip of the toes, 2” from ST –43, in the depression on the high point of the instep, where a pulse can be felt.  (The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  The dorsal artery and vein of the foot, the dorsal venous network of the foot.  Superficially, the medial dorsal cutaneous nerve of the foot derived from the superficial peroneal nerve; deeper, the deep peroneal nerve.

Tip:  The most noticeable “bump” on the top of the foot is the intermediate cuneiform bone.  The lateral cuneiform is immediately lateral to the informediate cuneiform.  ST –42 is found in the depression immediately proximal to these two bones.  Lateral to extensor digiforum brevis.

 

SP –3

Tai bai (Supreme White)

Location:  Proximal and inferior to the head of the 1st metatarsal bone, at the border of the red and white skin.

Classical Location:  Back along the inside of the toe from SP –2, in the depression under the ball bone.  (The Golden Mirror)

Local Anatomy:  The dorsal venous network of the foot, the medial plantar artery and branches of the medial tarsal artery.  Branches of the saphenous nerve and superficial peroneal nerve.

 

HT –7

Shen men (Spirit Gate)

Location:  On the transverse crease on the palmar side of the wrist, in the articular region between the pisiform bone and the ulna, in the depression on the radial side of the tendon of the ulnar flexor muscle of the wrist (m. flexor carpi ulnaris).

Classical Location:  Behind the hand, in the depression at the end of the extremity of the ulna.  (The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  See HT –4

Tip:  By flexing hand the depression is obvious.

 

 

SI –4

Wan gu (Wrist Bone)

Location:  On the ulnar side of the palm, in the depression between the base of the 5th metacarpal bone and the triquetral bone.

Classical Location:  On the outer side of the hand, in the depression by the protruding bone in front of the wrist.

Local Anatomy:  The posterior carpal artery (the branch of the ulnar artery), the dorsal venous network of the hand.  The dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve.

Tip:  Abduction (spreading) fingers deepens the depression.

 

Bl –64

Jing gu (Capital Bone)

 

Location:  On the lateral side of the dorsum of the foot, proximal to the back of the 5th metatarsal bone, at the border of the red and white skin.

Classical Location:  On the outer side of the foot, below the large bone, in the depression at the border of the red and white flesh.

Local Anatomy:  See BL –63

 

KI –3

Tai xi (Great Ravine)

Location:  In the depression between the medial melleolus and the Achilles tendon (t. calcaneus), level with the tip of the medial malleolus.

Classical Location:  Five fen behind the inner ankle bone, in the depression above the heel bone where a pulsating vessel can be felt. (The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:   Anteriorly, the posterior tibial artery and vein.  The medial crural cutaneous nerve, on the course of the tibial nerve.

Tip:  By plantar flexing the foot (pointing the toes) the depression is enhanced.

 

PC –7

Da ling (Great Mound)

Location:  In the depression in the middle of the transverse crease of the wrist, between the tendons of the long palmar muscle and the radial flexor muscle of the wrist (m. palmaris longus and m. flexor carpi radialist).

Classical Location:  In the depression between the two sinews behind the hand.  (The Systematized Cannon)

Local Anatomy:  The palmar arterial and venous network of the wrist.  At the deeper level, the median nerve.

Tip:  Flex wrist, find crease and two prominent tendons slightly to the radial side.

 

TB –4

Yang chi (Yang Pool)

Location:  At the junction of the ulna and carpal bones, in the depression lateral to the tendon of the digitorum communis extensor muscle (m. extensor digitorum communis)

Classical Location:  In a depression on the back of the wrist, from the base joint of the fingers, move straight back to the center fo the wrist.  (The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  Inferiorly, the dorsal venous network of the wrist and the posterior carpal artery.  The dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve and the terminal branch of the posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve.

Tip:  Hyperextend the wrist joint to find extensor digitorum.

 

GB –40

Qiu xu (Hill Ruins)

Location:  Anterior and inferior to the external malleolus, in the depression on the lateral side of the tendon of the long extensor muscle of the toes (m. extensor digitorum longus).

Classical Location:  In the depression below the lower outer ankle’s bone, three inches from GB –41. (The Systematized Cannon)

Local Anatomy:  The branch of the anterolateral malleolar artery.  The branches of the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve and superficial peroneal nerve.

Tip:  Dorsal flex the foot and trace the lateral tendon connecting to the small toe upward to medial and just distal to the lateral malleolus.

 

LV –3

Tai chong (Supreme Surge)

Location:  In the depression distal to the junction of the 1st and 2ndd metatarsal bones.

Classical Location:  One and a half to two inches below the base of the great toe, in the depression where the pulsating vessel may be sensed through palpation.  (The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  The dorsal venous network of the foot, and the first dorsal metatarsal artery.  The branch of the deep peroneal nerve.

 

 

LO POINT

 

 

LOCATION TIPS

LU –7

Le que (Broken Sequence)

Location:  IN the crevice on the most lateral aspect of the radius, just proximal to the styloid process, 1.5” above the wrist crease. 

Classical Location:  One and a half inches from the wrist.  When the thumb and index finger of one hand are interlocked with those of the other, the point lies to the edge of the index finger, in a depression between the sinew and bone.

(The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  The cephalic vein, branches of the radial artery and vein.  The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of the radial nerve.

Tip:  When the thumb and index finger of each hand are interlocked, with the index finger of one hand resting on the styloid process of the other, the point is in the depression just under the tip of the index finger.

 

LI –6

Pian li (Veering Passage)

Location:  One quarter of the way (i.e., 3”) along the line that runs from LI –5 to

LI –11.

Classical Location:  Moving upward from LI –5, it is three inches behind the wrist.  (The Golden Mirror)

Local Anatomy:  The cephalic vein; on the radial side the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve and the superficial ramus of the radial nerve.  On the ulnar side, the posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve and the posterior antebrachial interosseous nerve.

Tip:  About 1 palm width along lateral edge of the radius.

 

ST –40

Feng long (Bountiful Bulge)

Location:  8” below ST –35, about one finger’s breadth lateral to ST –38.

Classical Location:  ST –40 lies upward and outward from ST –39, eight inches above the outer ankle bone, in a depression on the outer face of the lower leg bone.  (The Golden Mirror)

Local Anatomy:  Branches of the anterior tibial artery and vein.  The superficial peroneal nerve.

Tip:  The point is found at the midpoint between knee and lateral malleous between tibialis and extensor digitorum longus.  Found when foot is dorsa flexed.

 

 

SP –4

Gong sun (Yellow Emperor)

Location:  In the depression distal and inferior to the base of the 1st metatarsal bone, at the border of the red and white flesh.

Classical Location:  One inch behind the base joint of the great toe. 

(The Systematized Canon)

Local Anatomy:  The medial tarsal artery and the dorsal venous network of the foot.  The saphenous nerve and the branch of the superficial peroneal nerve.

 

HT –5

Tong li (Connecting Li)

Locaton:  1” proximal to the transverse wrist crease.  On the radial side of the tendon of the ulnar flexor muscle of the wrist (m. flexor carpi ulnaris).

Classical Location:  In the depression one inch behind the hand. 

(The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  See HT –4

 

SI –7

Zhi zheng (Branch to the Correct)

Location:  5” proximal to the wrist, on the line joining SI –5 and SI –8. On the medial edge of the ulna.

Classical Location: Five inches behind the wrist.  (The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  The terminal branches of the posterior interossecous artery and vein.  Superficially, the branch of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve; deeper, on the radial side, the posterior interosseous nerve.

 

 

BL –58

Fei yang (Taking Flight)

Location:  7” above BL –60, on the posterior border fo the fibula, on the lateral anterior border of the gastrocnemius muscle, about 1” inferior and lateral to

BL –57.

Classical Location:  Moving obliquely (outward and downward) from BL –57, in the depression seven inches above the outer ankle’s bone.  (The Golden Mirror)

Local Anatomy:  The lateral sural cutaneous nerve.

Tip:  If the palm of the hand is placed over the calf muscle, the index finger is at the point.  Dorsa flex the foot to find.

 

KI –4

Da zhong (Large Goblet)

Location:  Posterior and inferior to KI –3, in the depression anterior to the angle formed by the Achilles tendon (t.calcaneus) and the calcaneum.

Classical Location:  At the back of the heel, between the two sinews above the large bone.  (The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  The medial calcaneal branch of the posterior tibial artery.  The medial crural cutaneous nerve, on the course of the medial calcaneal ramus derived from the tibial nerve.

 

 

PC –6

Nei quan (Inner Pass)

Location:  2” above the transverse crease of the wrist, between the tendons of the long palmar muscle and the radial flexor muscle of the wrist (m.palmaris longus and m. flexor carpi radialis).

Classical Location:  Between the sinews two inches behind the wrist, at the point opposite to TB-5. 

(The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  See PC –5

 

TB –5

Wai quan (Outer Pass)

Location:  2” above TB-4, between the radius and ulna

Classical Location:  Between the two bones two inches behind the wrist, opposite PC –6.  (The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy:  At the deeper level, the posterior and anterior interosseous arteries and veins.  The posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve; deeper, the posterior interosseous nerve of the radial nerve and the anterior interosseous nerve of the median nerve.

 

 

GB –40

Qui xu (Hill Ruins)

Location:  Anterior and inferior to the external malleolus, in the depression on the lateral side of the tendon of the long extensor muscle of the toes (m.exensor digitorum longus).

Classical Location:  In the depression below the lower outer ankle’s bone, three inches from GB –41.  (The Systematized Canon)

Local Anatomy:  The branch of the anterolateral malleolar artery. The branches of the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve and superficial peroneal nerve.

 

LV –5

Li gou (Woodworm Canal)

Location:  5.0” above the tip of the medial melleolus, in a small depression on the medial aspect of the tibia.

Classical Location:  Five inches above the inner ankle’s bone.

(The Great Compendium)

Local Anatomy: Posteriorly, the great saphenous vein. The branch of the saphenous nerve.

 

 

 


[1] These tips are derived directly from Ellis, Andrew; Nigel Wiseman and Ken Boss.  Fundamentals of Chinese Acupunture.  Brookline:  Paradigm Books.  1991