Abstract
Abstract
Background:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has actively sought to bring international standardization of the terminology used in acupuncture texts, training, and research.
Objectives:
The purpose of the present article is to delineate specific auricular landmarks that can be utilized to differentiate one auricular zone from another, thus facilitating international communication regarding the specific, somatotopic location of different parts of the body on the external ear.
Methods:
Two-dimensional ear diagrams and photographs of actual ears were utilized to develop a detailed, three dimensional (3-D) image of the external ear. These 3-D images were then used to show the specific locations of auricular landmarks and auricular zones in both the American and Chinese systems for representing the somatotopic locations of different body areas.
Results:
3-D images of the auricle were created that were able to depict the specific locations of auricular landmarks and auricular zones in both the American and Chinese zone systems.
Conclusions:
Distinctive auricular landmarks were identified and depicted on two-dimensional and 3-D images of the external ear. These landmarks allowed the comparison of an American auricular zone system to a standardized Chinese auricular zone system.
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