Basic Technical Terms of Acupuncture Eight Extra Meridians

STANDARD

ACUPUNCTURE NOMENCLATURE

PART 2 REVISED EDITION

Basic Technical Terms of Acupuncture Eight Extra Meridians

Extra Points

Scalp Acupuncture

Acupuncture Needles

Unit of Measurement

Cover: one of the oldest "copperman" statues indicating the acupuncture points.

Reproduced by the kind permission of the Tokyo National Museum.

First Edition 1988 Revised Edition 1991

NOTE

The views expressed in this pamphlet are those of the members of the Regional Consultation Meeting on the Standardization of Acupuncture Nomenclature, held in May 1984. the Second WHO Regional Working Group on the Standardization of Acupuncture Nomenclature. held in July 1985. the Third WHO Regional Working Group on the Standardization of Acupuncture Nomenclature, held in June 1987. and the Scientific Group to Adopt a Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature. held in October-November 1989. and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the World Health Organization.

For further information. please contact the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. P. O. Box 2932. Manila. Philippines.

TYPESET IN JAPAN PRINTED IN THE PHILIPPINES

CONTENTS

Page INTRODUCTION· ... ... ... ... ...

3

I. STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF BASIC TECHNICAL

TERMS OF ACUPUNCTURE ... ... ... ... ...

5

2. STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF EIGHT EXTRA

MERIDIANS ... ... ... ... 6 3 . STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF EXTRA POINTS ... ...

8

4. STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF SCALP

ACUPUNCTURE ...

11

5. SCALP ACUPUNCTURE LINES ...

14

6. STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF ACUPUNCTURE

NEEDLES··· .. ·· .. ··· ...

21

7. ST ANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF THE UNIT OF

MEASUREMENT ...

23

INTRODUCTION

With a view to achieving global agreement on a standard acupuncture nomenclature, the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific has to date sponsor- ed four regional meetings:

(a) Working Group on the Standardization of Acupuncture Nomenclature, Manila, December 1982;

(b) Regional Consultation Meeting on the Standardization of Acupuncture Nomen- clature, Tokyo, May 1984;

(c) Second Working Group on the Standardization of Acupuncture Nomenclature, Hong Kong, July 1985; and

(d) Third Working Group on the Standardization of Acupuncture Nomenclature, Seoul, June 1987,

The Manila meeting in 1982 established the nomenclature structure of the meridians and acupuncture points, and reached a consensus on 361 classical Acupuncture points.

The Tokyo meeting in 1984 approved the standard nomenclature of31 extra points and adopted brief explanations covering 361 classical acupuncture point names, the standard nomenclature of scalp acupuncture and the basic lines for locations of acupuncture points, except the Lateral Cranial Line and Lateral Abdominal Line.

The Hong Kong meeting in 1985 approved 17 extra and new points, the standard nomenclature of the eight extra meridians, with the exception of "Chongmai", and the standard English nomenclature of the basic technical terms of acupuncture.

The Seoul meeting in 1987 finalized the standard nomenclature of the eight extra meridians, developed the standard nomenclature of selected auricular points, acupuncture needles and unit for location of meridians and acupuncture points, finalized the standard nomenclature of forty-eight extra points, and adopted guidelines for development of the acupuncture chart. It was also decided to defer discussion on the basic lines for further study,

After basic agreement at the Regional level, a Scientific Group to Adopt a Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature was held in Geneva in October-November 1989, The meeting, together with the members from the WHO Regions other than the Western Pacific Region, reviewed the 361 classical acupuncture points, eight extra meridians, 48 extra points and scalp acupuncture and made minor modifications.

A pamphlet entitled Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature which covers 361 classical

acupuncture points was published in 1984 and copies were distributed throughout the world. Its revised edition, which was adopted in the Geneva meeting in 1989, is being published with minor modifications.

A booklet entitled Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature, gIVing a comparative multilingual list in English, French, Japanese. Korean and Vietnamese, was also published in 1984 as a WHO Regional Publication, Western Pacific Series No. I. This is now under revision. including the explanation of acupuncture point names.

The present pamphlet consists of six sections: (I) Standard nomenclature of basic technical terms of acupuncture; (2) Standard nomenclature of the eight extra meridians;

(3) Standard nomenclature of extra points; (4) Standard nomenclature of scalp acupunc- ture; (5) Standard nomenclature of acupuncture needles; (6) Standard nomenclature of the unit of measurement.

At the Geneva meeting. eight extra meridians including the English nomenclature for

"Chongmai" were adopted, 48 extra points were adopted based on Regional agreement and scalp acupuncture was adopted on the basis of Regional agreement with the inclusion of suitable diagrams. These are incorporated in this revised edition of the pamphlet.

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF

BASIC TECHNICAL TERMS OF ACUPUNCTURE

There have been differences in the English nomenclature of basic technical terms of acupuncture. For instance. Jing

was sometimes translated as

"meridian", but at other times as "channel". Another example is Zhenjiuxue

(~)(J'",:),

which was translated as .. acupuncture point" or .. acupoint". The following standard nomenclature was adopted at the meeting held in Hong Kong in 1985 :

Meridian ling

Collateral LUD

Meridian and Collateral JIngluD

*IH

)

Main Meridian ZhengjIng lHWf,m

Extra Meridian QijIng

*1: )

Meridian Point JIngxue

Extra Point Qixue

Acupuncture Point Zhenjiuxue

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF EIGHT EXTRA MERIDIANS

At the meeting in Hong Kong in 1985, after a careful and detailed study and debate, the nomenclature for eight extra meridians was adopted with the exception of"Chongmai".

The phrase "Eight Extra Meridians", which includes the Conception and Governor Vessel Meridians plus six extra meridians, was officially recognized as the corporate title of this group.

It was unanimously decided to omit the term "meridian" after Conception Vessel and Governor Vessel in order to standardize the nomenclature of the eight extra meridians.

The members were requested to find a suitable English equivalent for "Chongmai" and to report to the Third Regional Working Group.

At the meeting in Seoul in 1987, "Chongmai" was again discussed. Various names were proposed such as Infusion Vessel, Sea Vessel, Gush Vessel, Flush Vessel, Charging Vessel and Ancestral Vessel. Most of the suggestions referred to the description in Neijing(pg~:

Canon of Medicine), i. e. "sea of the blood and gas". Members from China, however, noted that it was impossible for them to find a suitable English equivalent.

After a lengthy discussion, the terms Charging, Flush, Gush, Infusion were grouped as one with similar meanings and, considering the alphanumeric code, it was decided to use Flush Vessel and the abbreviation FV, with a footnote "Further investigation of a more suitable English nomenclature might be necessary".

At the meeting in Geneva in 1989, ~Chongmai" was discussed again together with the participants from regions other than WHO Western Pacific Region. Thouroughfare Vessel and Thoroughway Vessel were proposed as possible English equivalents. After lively and careful discussion, it was finally decided to use Thoroughfare Vessel with the abbrevia- tion TV.

Th us, the nomenclature of the eight extra meridians is as follows:

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF EIGHT EXTRA MERIDIANS

GV DOmai 'Pi

Governor Vessel

CV Renmai

Conception Vessel

TV Ch6ngmai

Thoroughfare Vessel BV Daimai

Belt Vessel

YinHV Ylnqiaomai 1;1: ( fill )

Yin Heel Vessel

YangHV Yangqiaomai

1 Yang Heel Vessel

YinLV Ylnweimai

(

Hit

Yin Link Vessel

YangLV Yangweimai

[:llHU Uti )

Yang Link Vessel

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF EXTRA POINTS

At the Tokyo meeting in 1984, 31 extra points were adopted, all of which are those recorded in the medical classics and are widely used. At the Hong Kong meeting in 1985, 5 extra points and 12 new points were adopted using the following criteria:

(I) The points should be in common use.

(2) They must be clinically effective.

(3) They must have a clear anatomical location.

(4) They must be at least 0.5 cun away from a classical acupuncture point.

(5) If an extra point has the same name as an existing point, a prefix must be added to it.

At the Seoul meeting in 1987, a suitable nomenclature for all the 48 acupuncture points was discussed. After careful consideration, it was unanimously agreed that all points outside the 361 classical acupuncture points should be called Extra Points. This should include all new points introduced after 1901 A.D., including 12 new points adopted in Hong Kong namely, QiCihou, ShangYl ngxiang, Ylmlng, Dlngchuan, YaoYI Xiazhlshl, Yaotongdian Wllilaogong, Lanwei, Dannang, Neixi'yan and Xlnei. Thus, all told, the Working Group adopted 48 extra points.

The alphanumeric code of these 48 extra points was then discussed. The following principles were established and the alphanumeric code was adopted:

(1) head, neck and trunk regions, from the higher to the lower level;

(2) upper and lower extremities, from the proximal to the distal level and, if at the same level, from the medial to the lateraL

The following standard nomenclature was adopted for the 48 extra points.

This was also adopted at the Geneva Meeting in 1989.

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF EXTRA POINTS

Ex-HNI

*Ex-HN2 Ex-HN3 Ex-HN4 Ex-HN5 Ex-HN6

*Ex-HN7

*Ex-HN8 Ex-HN9 Ex-HNlO Ex-HNll Ex-HNI2

*Ex-HN13

*Ex-HNI4

*Ex-HNI5

Points of Head and Neck, HN_

T6ujing xue

Slshencong m'ingyang YlnUing YGyao Taiyang Erjian QiGhOu

Shangyingxiang Neiyingxiang JUquan IHiiquan JinjIn Yuye Ylming Jingbailao

~LJ~lp( f!11 )~.'ll(1l~\

'Il'i

.1\1.1. fiF. ) H'l:'

;U>I)jllifj)

If'k

I:j(i~ (1;-;') j

',iill

f1-Lill

~)R

~hHiJ.

<Tr~ It .=f.

au

~~IJ)j

~il (J~i. }!l) Fi'* (J;'. T;)

Points of Chest and Abdomen , CA.

Ex-CAl

'Ex-BI Ex-B2

*Ex-B3 Ex-B4

*Ex-B5

*Ex-B6 Ex-B7 Ex-B8 Ex-B9

Xi5ngfu xue

Zigong

Points of Back , B.

Beibu xue

Dlngchuan Jiaji

Weiwanxiashil Pigen

Xiazhlshl Yaoyi Yaoyan ShlqIzhuI Yaoqi

!J~II!(

~Uft

ali' (,r

Points of Upper Extremities, UE.

Ex-UE1 Ex-UE2 Ex-UE3 Ex-UE4 Ex-UE5 Ex-UE6

*Ex-UE7

*Ex-UE8 Ex-UE9 Ex-UElO Ex-UEll

'Ex-LEI Ex-LE2

*Ex-LE3

*Ex-LE4 Ex-LE5 Ex-LE6

*Ex-LE7 Ex-LE8 Ex-LE9 Ex-LElO Ex-LEll

*Ex-LE12

ShangzhI xue

Zhoujian Erbai Zh5ngquan Zh5ngku!

m.gi:ik5ng Xiaogi:ik5ng YaotOngdian Wailaog5ng Baxie Slfeng Shixuan

ijt'k

=8 rpJR rpM

*1f('R")"~

'H't

Jlf jj\J Jl1,1; ( }\ 1

jj-~H

11',

1lLI~;f(tl ) +~

Points of Lower Extremities , LE.

XiazhI xue TijiiJ'(

Kuangi:i Heding Xlnei Neixly{m Xlyan Dannang Lanwei Neihuaijian Waihuaijian Bafeng Duyln Qiduan

t'lWlt )

ttl1t )

til(

t% ) m (Triil j*r"J

I"Jj*HR

~i!1.

fjf!\'(ijH)ft loti] (ljjlJ ) I-f, f"lM!I':'k

jj-~!I':'k J\.J,pW~\)

)15 (

lP1i (

~(\, ~\)t[1ffi

'Selected at the meeting in Hong Kong in 1985, the other 31 being selected

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF SCALP ACUPUNCTURE

Scalp acupuncture therapy, whereby diseases are treated by needling on certain areas of the head, has been employed in China since 1970. It is now becoming one of the therapeutic methods frequently used in many countries.

ScalI' acupuncture has been developed on the basis of the traditional medicine system of acupuncture. Its points are closely related to the meridians, classical acupuncture points and the theory of internal organs. Thus its nomenclature should reflect the theory and characteristics of meridians and acupuncture points.

This nomenclature is formulated on the principle of selecting points on the meridians decided by the locations in various regions of the head in combination with the classical method of through-needling (needling from one point to reach another point or more points) .

Like the classical points, the nomenclature of scalp acupuncture consists of three essential elements, namely, alphanumeric code, Chinese phonetic alphabet (Pinyin) names and Han characters. The corresponding English equivalent is also given.

The alphabetic code name of scalp acupuncture is MS, this code name being derived from the terms "micro-system" and "scalp points".

This nomenclature was adopted at the meeting III Tokyo III 1984 after a lengthy discussion.

At the Geneva meeting, this nomenclature was also adopted with the inclusion of suitable diagrammes.

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF SCALP ACUPUNCTURE

MSI Ezh6ngxian

crk,,\U H:) Middle Line of Forehead

1 cun long from GV24 Shenting iIi$ll$)/ff straight down along the meridian.

MS2 Epangxian I

Lateral Line I of Forehead

1 cun long from BL3 Meich6ng

straight down along the meridian.

MS3 EpangxianII

Lateral Line 2 of Forehead

I cun long from GBl5 T6ulinql

straight down along the meridian.

MS4 Epangxian Ill.

Lateral Line 3 of Forehead

1 cun long from the point 0.75 cun medial to ST8 T6uwei

straight down,

MS5 DingzhOngxian

Middle Line of Vertex

From GV20 B<lihul

to GV21 Qianding

along the midline of head.

MS6 Dlngnie Qianxiexian fJ'i (Inilli\ Oj10 iiWMJit

Anterior Oblique Line of Vertex-Temporal

From Qianshenc6ng

(one of acupuncture points

of Ex-HNI Slshenc6ng

1 cun anterior to GV20

Baihul

obliquely to GB6 Xuanli

MS8 Dingpangxian I

Lateral Line 1 of Vertex

1.5 cun lateral to Middle Line of Vertex, 1.5 cun long from BL 7 T(lngtian

backward along the meridian.

MS9 Dingpangxian II

Lateral Line 2 of Vertex

2.25 cun lateral to Middle Line of Vertex

l.5 cun long from GBl7 Zhengying

backward along the meridian.

MSIO Nieqianxian lli(lllOll1i**(til Anterior Temporal Line

From GB4 Hanyan

to GB6 Xuanl!

MSll NiehOuxian

Posterior Temporal Line

From GB8 Shuaigii

to GB7 Qubln

MSl2 Zhenshang ZhengzhOngxian

Upper-Middle Line of Occiput

From GV18 Qiangjian

to GVl7 NaohO

MS13 Zhenshang Pangxian fLl:'%'k*(

Upper-Lateral Line of Occiput

0.5 cun lateral and parallel to Upper-Middle Line of Occiput.

MSl4 Zhenxia Pangxian ftr"HJitWU Lower-Lateral Line of Occiput

2 cun long from BL9 YOzhen clift straight down.

OV24 ---~

BL3 - - - ---..

OBI5 - - - ST8 --

I

, - - - -- ---- MSI

I

~-... - - / r---

I /

I I

I / , - - - -- -- MS3

/ / / /

} / ^{~ / r-~-- -- -}

GV20 -~ ...

_ MS5

Fig . 2. Scalp acupuncture line MS5 (vertex view)

qianshencong - - - -"""""\

GV20

- - - - c

MS7 - - - - -

GB7 - - -

/ /

/ ~ - - - MS6

GB6

qianshencong

MS8 - - - - GV20

MS9 - - - -

GB8

GB7

BL7 GBl7

GB4 MSIO

GB6

Fig. 4. Scalp acupuncture lines MS8, MS9, MSJO and MSJ J (lateral view)

GVI8----...

GVI7

BL9

/ /' / '

/

..-

/ /

/ / /

"

/ '

..- ..- ..-

/

,r-- - - - -

"

/ /

/ - - - _.

MSI2 MSI3

r - - - MSI4

GVI9

a

GVIS 0

GVI7 0 inion ------.

GVI6 Q

GV21 GV20 a

aGBI?

visual area

Fig .

Scalp acupuncture lines MS6 . MS7. MS8 . MS9. MSIO and MSII superimposed on functional zones of the brain . *

nasion

GV17

atlas

GV20 0

GVI90

GV18

visual area

~ cerebelium

o

inion

•

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES

At the meeting in Seoul in 1987, after a lively discussion, the standard nomenclature of filiform needles was adopted and the method of measurement was decided. The standard norr.enclature of the "nine classical needles·' and modern needles was also proposed as follows:

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF FILIFORM NEEDLES

handle Zhenbing

root Zhengen

body Zhenti

'fl

tip Zhenjian r>l« *t, Hl;k (

The diameter is measured at the root and the length of the needle

measured from the root to the tip.

The unit of measurement is the millimetre.

PROPOSED STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF

"NINE CLASSICAL NEEDLES"

(1)

Shear needle Chiinzhen

(2) Round-point needle Yuiinzhen

bl

H,

(3) Spoon needle Chizhen

(4) Lance needle Fengzhen

(5) Stiletto needle Plzhen

(6) Round-sharp needle Yuiinllzhen

(7) Filiform needle Hiiozhen

(8) Long needle Changzhen

(9) Big needle Dil.zhen

PROPOSED STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF MODERN NEEDLES

(1)

Three-edged needle Sanlengzhen

(2) Ringheaded thumbtack QInzhen

needle

(3) Intradermal needle Pineizhen

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE OF THE UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

At the Seoul meeting in 1987, the Working Group discussed the unit for location of meridians and acupuncture points.

was reported that different units and systems were in use. Some countries used the term "inch" or other equivalent units in English. However, most of the countries used the cun/Cun, or tsun/Tsun.

After a long discussion, it was decided to use the cun (non-italicized) as the standardized nomenclature for the unit.

It was also noted that there were two different ways of defining the cun.

Therefore, it was decided that the following standard nomenclature should be used in each measurement method:

B-cun Glidli Fenclin bone proportional cun

F-cun Sh5uzhl T6ngshenclin Cfr.l"liilJr>t finger cun

The Working Group also discussed standardization of the measurement of parts of the body using the cun.

Thirty-six parts of the body mentioned in Neijing(P'J~: Canon of Medicine) were reviewed one by one. The following criteria were used:

( 1) Commonly used (2) Easy to measure

(3) Clearly defined anatomically

(4) Not controversial among the members

Some controversial parts were left for further investigation.

Standard measurements of six parts of the body were adopted as follows:

(I) from the upper border of the Manubrium to the end of the body of the Sternum = 9B-cun

(2) from the end of the body of the Sternum to the Umbilicus = 8B-cun (3) from the Umbilicus to the upper border of the Symphysis pubis= 5B-cun (4) from the Medial Malleol us to the ground = 3B-cun

(5) from the greater Trochanter to the knee joint= 19B-cun

(6) from the knee joint to the prominence of Lateral Malleolus= 16 B-cun

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