Course of the Channels and Point Qualifications


Large Intestine Channel (Hand-Yangming)

Course:
The Large Intestine Channel begins at the radial corner of the nail of the index finger. It passes between the second and third metacarpal bone through the anatomical snuffbox and reaches the radial side of the forearm. It ascends to the lateral edge of the transverse cubital crease of the elbow, and runs between the lateral head of the triceps muscle and the brachioradialis muscle to the anterior aspect of the deltoideus muscle. From there the Large Intestine Channel continues to ascend to the shoulder and through LI 15. The Channel branches behind the acromion to CV 14, crosses the shoulder and reaches ST 12 in the supraclavicular fossa.

From ST 12 the internal pathway enters the thorax and connects with the Lungs, traverses the diaphragm and descends to enter the large intestine.

The surface pathway of the Large Intestine Channel ascends along the lateral aspect of the neck and reaches the lower jaw, internally it enters into the gum and supplies the lower teeth. It then curves around the lips, crosses the philtrum at the midline, and reaches the opposite side of the nose. The Channel terminates at LI 20.

Point Qualifications:

LI 01

Shangyang

Jing-Well Point, Metal Point

LI 02

Erjian

Ying-Spring Point, Water Point

LI 03

Sanjian

Shu-Stream Point, Wood Point

LI 04

Hegu

Yuan-Source Point

LI 05

Yangxi

Jing-River Point, Fire Point

LI 06

Pianli

Luo-Connecting Point

LI 07

Wenliu

Xi-Cleft Point

LI 11

Quchi

He-Sea Point, Earth Point


BL 25

Dachangshu

Back-Shu Point of the Large Intestine

ST 25

Tianshu

Front-Mu Alarm Point of the Large intestine