TWELVE MERIDIANS Guangyi Xiong MD PhD Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Email:drxionggycn@yahoo.com.cn

Overview This theory studies the physiological and pathological relationship between the meridians and viscera. Combing the basic theories such as the visceral manifestation theory, qi-blood-fluid theory, and theory of etiology.

Overview “不诵十二经络，开口动手便错” ----《医学入门》 “If one does not read the twelve meridians, one will make mistakes while inquiring and treating”

Outlines The Nomenclature The Distributions The exterior-interior relations The Courses The connections The flowing order

Section I The Concept and Composition of the Meridians Meridian are pathways in which the qi and blood circulate and through which the viscera and limbs are connected, allowing the upper-lower and interior-exterior portions of the body to communicate.

I The Concept of the Meridians The meridians form the main truck, while the collaterals represent the branches. Meridians run in straight fixed courses, while collaterals crisscross in the body, forming a network and linking-up the viscera, organs, orifices, skins, muscles, tendons and bones into an organic whole.

II The compositions of the meridian system meridians and collaterals Meridian: twelve regular meridians; eight extra meridians; the twelve divergent meridians Collateral: the fifteen major collaterals; the small collaterals; the superficial collaterals Subsidiary part: the twelve meridian tendon regions; the twelve skin areas

Twelve Regular Meridians Include: Three Yin Meridians of Hand (Lung，Pericardium and Heart); Three Yang Meridians of Hand (Large Intestine，Triple-Jiao and Small Intestine)， Three Yang Meridians of Foot (Stomach,Gallbladder and Bladder)， Three Yin Meridians of Foot (Spleen，Liver and Kidney)． They are the major trunks of the system of the meridians，so they are called the Twelve Regular Meridians.

1. The Nomenclature of the Twelve Regular Meridians The nomenclature of the Twelve Regular Meridians is based on the three factors: a) Hand or Foot, b) Yin or Yang, c) Zang or Fu viscera.

1. The Nomenclature of the Twelve Regular Meridians The Twelve Regular Meridians pertain to the twelve Zang and Fu organs correspondingly, each regular meridian is named after the organ to which it pertains. In consideration of the factors, such as hand or foot, interior or exterior, anterior, middle or posterior aspect of the meridian travels through, and also in accordance with the theory of Yin and Yang

The Nomenclature of the Twelve Regular Meridians The meridians that pertain to the Fu-organs are Yang meridians which mainly travel along the lateral aspect of the limbs. The meridians that pertain to the Zang-organs are called Yin meridians which are mainly distributed on the medial aspect of the four limbs.

The Nomenclature of the Twelve Regular Meridians Based on the development of Yin and Yang theory, the meridians are divided into three Yin meridians and three Yang meridians.

The Nomenclature & Classification of the Twelve Meridians Yin Meridians (Pertain to Zang organs) Yang Meridians (Pertain to Fu organs) Hand The Lung Meridian of Taiyin The Large Intestine Meridian of Yangming The Pericardium Meridian of Jueyin The Tri-Jiao Meridian of Shaoyang The Heart Meridian of Shaoyin The Small Intestine Meridian of Taiyang Foot The Spleen Meridian of Jueyin The Stomach Meridian of Yangming The Liver Meridian of Jueyin The Gallbladder Meridian of Shaoyang The Kidney Meridian of Shaoyin The Urinary Bladder Meridian of Taiyang

2. The Distributions of the Twelve Meridians The twelve regular meridians are distributed symmetrically at the left and right sides of the head, trunk and four limbs and go through the whole body.

躯干部：前面4条经脉，7条线；后面2条经脉，5条线 In the body trunk 胃经 任脉 3寸 1.5寸 督脉 6 4 2 第5肋间 脐上6寸 脐上3寸 4 2 0.5 脾经 肾经 膀胱经 In the front of the trunk (The thoracico-abdomina aspect) On the back of the trunk (The Dorsal aspect)

(the posterior border) (the posterior border) 四肢部： On the four limbs 内侧 The medial aspect 外侧 The lateral aspect 太阴（前缘） Taiyin (the anterior border) 阳明（前缘） Yangming (the anterior border) －－－－ 厥阴（中线） Jueyin (the midlinie) 少阳（中线） Shaoyang (the midline) －－－－ 少阴（后缘） Shaoyin (the posterior border) 太阳（后缘） Taiyang (the posterior border) －－－－ 注：下肢在内踝上8寸以下，足厥阴在足太阴之前，在内踝上8寸以上，遵循规律。

The Distributions of the Twelve Meridians⑵ The six Yin meridians are distributed on the medial aspects of the four limbs, the thoracic and abdominal regions. The three Yin meridians of the hands are distributed on the medial aspects of the upper limbs, while the three Yin meridians of the foot on the medial aspects of the lower limbs.

The Distributions of the Twelve Meridians ⑶ The six Yang meridians are mostly distributed on the lateral aspects of four limbs, head and trunk. The three Yang meridians of hand are distributed on the lateral aspects of the upper limbs, while the three Yang meridians of foot on the lateral aspects of the lower limbs

The Distributions of the Twelve Meridians ⑷ The three Yang meridians of hand and foot are arranged in an order, in which "Large Intestine and Stomach Meridians" are the anterior ones, "Triple-Jiao and Gallbladder Meridians" the medium ones, and "Small Intestine and Bladder Meridians" the post-erior ones.

The Distributions of the Twelve Meridians ⑸ The three Yin meridians of hand are arranged as follows: "Lung Meridians" are the anterior ones, "Pericardium Meridians" the medium ones, and Heart Meridians" the posterior ones, The three Yin meridians of foot are to the aspects of the lower limbs and instep.

The Distributions of the Twelve Meridians ⑹ They are arranged in an order in which Liver Meridians are the anterior ones, Spleen Meridians are the medium ones, Kidney Meridians are the posterior ones under the lever 8 cun above the medial malleolus, Liver Meridians and Spleen Meridians are crossed, then, Spleen Meridian is in the anterior aspect, Liver meridian in the mediun aspect, Kidney Meridian in the posterior aspect.

The Exterior-Interior and Pertaining & Communicating Relations of the Twelve Regular Meridians The Exterior-Interior and Pertaining Relations of the Twelve Regular Meridians: The Twelve Regular Meridians pertain to Zang-Fu organs interiorly , there is an exterior-interior and corresponding relation between Zang and Fu organs, an exterior-interior and pertaining relation between Yin meridians and Yang meridians.

The Exterior-Interior and Pertaining & Communicating Relations of the Twelve Regular Meridians ⑵ That is, the Lung Meridian has an exterior and interior relations with the Large Intestine Meridian, the Stomach Meridian with the Spleen Meridian, the Heart Meridian with the Small Intestine Meridian, the Bladder Meridian with the Kidney Meridian, the Pericardium Meridian with the Triple Jiao Meridian, and the Gallbladder Meridian with the Liver Meridian.

The Exterior-Interior and Pertaining & Communicating Relations of the Twelve Regular Meridians ⑶ There is a pertaining and communicating relation between the Yin meridians and Yang meridians connected interiorly-exteriorly in the body. The Yin meridians pertain to the Zang-organs, and communicate with the Fu-organs, while the Yang meridians pertain to the Fu-organs, and communicate with the Zang-organs.

The Exterior-Interior and Pertaining & Communicating Relations of the Twelve Regular Meridians ⑷ For example, the Lung Meridian pertains to the lung and communicates with the large intestine, the Large Intestine Meridian pertains to the large intestine and communicates with the lung. The relation of interior and exterior meridians is reinforced by linking the collaterals in the four limbs. Thus six pairs of the interior-exterior, pertaining and communicative relations are formed among Zang and Fu, Yin and Yang and meridians. There is a close relation physiologically among the interior- exterior meridians. They are inter-affected during the pathological changes and inter-action during treatment.

4. The Courses of the Twelve Meridians Three Yin meridians of hand start from the chest to the hands. Three Yang meridians of hand run from hands to the head. Three Yang meridians of foot run from the head to the feet. Three Yin meridians of foot run from the feet to abdomen and chest.

The Courses of the Twelve Regular Meridians (2) Head Three Yang Meridians Three Yin Meridians Chest Hand Three Yin Meridians Three Yang Meridians Abdomen Foot

The Connections of the Twelve Regular Meridians (1) The Yin Meridians link with the Yang meridians mainly in the limbs. For instance, the Lung Meridian links with the Large Intestine Meridian on the tip of the index finger. The Stomach Meridian connects with the Spleen Meridian on the tip of the great toe,the Bladder Meridian reaches the lateral side of the tip of the little toe where it links with the Kidney Meridian. The Gallbladder Meridian runs to the distal portion of the great toe and terminates at its hairy region where it links with the Liver Meridian.

The Connections of the Twelve Regular Meridians （2） The Yang meridians and Yang meridians (with the same nomenclature) are met on the head. For instance, both the Large Intestine meridian and the Stomach Meridian go to both sides of the nose. Both the Small Intestine Meridian and the Bladder Meridian reach the inner canthus; Both the Triple Jiao Meridian and the Gallbladder Meridian reach the outer canthus.

The Connections of the Twelve Regular Meridians（3） The Yin meridians are met in the chest region. For instance, the Spleen Meridian links with the Heart Meridian in the heart, the Kidney Meridian links with the Pericardium Meridian in the chest, and the Liver Meridian links with the Lung Meridian in the lung.

十二经脉的循行走向与衔接规律 头 手 胸 足 1、阳经与阳经在头面部衔接 2、阴经与阴经在胸部衔接 3、阴经与阳经在手足部衔接 腹 足三阳 手三阳 头 衔接规律 手 胸 足 1、阳经与阳经在头面部衔接 2、阴经与阴经在胸部衔接 3、阴经与阳经在手足部衔接 手三阴 腹 足三阴

The Flowing Order of the Twelve Regular Meridians The circulation of qi and blood inside the Twelve meridians in like the circular movement endlessly. Their circulation starts from the lung meridian of Hand-Taiyin, runs to the liver meridian, and restarts like a ring without end.

The Flowing Order of the Twelve Regular Meridians LU LR LI GB ST MiddleJiao SP SJ HT PC KI BL SI

Summary The Nomenclature The Distributions The exterior-interior relations The Courses The connections The flowing order

Question What is the Twelve Regular Meridian? Could you describe the principles of the Twelve Regular Meridian?

thank you!