Abstract
Eight specially preserved adult cadavers, with 49 detached upper extremities and 24 lower extremities were used to study the topographical relations of 324 acupuncture points of the 12 Channels and Ren Channel, with special references to the distribution of the peripheral nerves. Histological structures including the morphologi cal characteristics of the 21 points, especially ‘Nei-Guan’ with its surrounding nerve-endings was carefully examined.
The result was that most points, 323 out of 324, could be located to the nervous structure, related either to the branches of the cranial or the spinal nerve. There was evidence that all the Channels along which acupuncture points were located could be traced in line with certain peripheral nerves.
The nerve supply of the acupuncture points and of the related viscera can be traced to the same spinal segment or around the segment. Each pair of “Ying” and “Yang” or “External” and “Internal” Channels can usually be located at the same spinal segment, communicating with different side branches, overlapping or anastomosing one another. Regarding the nervous structure of the 21 points studied, each has its particular density of distribution, including the size and the arrangement. In addition, individual structure of related nerve endings are different from each other.
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