Acupuncture Meridian Pathways & Point Locations

Large Intestine Meridian Pathway & Point Locations
The Hand Bright Yang (Yang MIng) of the Large Intestine 20 points

The large intestine channel of the Hang-Yangming starts from the tip of the index finger. Running upward along the radical aspect of the index finger, it passes through the inter-space of the first and second metacarpal bones, and ascends along the lateral anterior aspect of the upper arm to the highest point of the shoulder. It then travels along the anterior border of the acromion, then descends to the supraclavicular fossa. From the supraclavicular fossa it travels upward to the neck and to the cheek, then it curves around the upper lip and exits at the corner of the mouth, where it crosses the opposite large intestine channel of the Hand-Yangming at the philtrum. it ends at the side of the nose, where is connects with the stomach channel of the Foot-Yangming.

LI1 Shangyang
0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail on the radial side of the index finger.

LI2 Erjian
On the radial side of the index finger distal to the 2nd metacarpal-phalangeal joint in a depression at the junction of the red & white skin.

LI3 Sanjian
On the radial side of the index finger proximal to the head of the 2nd metacarpal bone.

LI4 Hegu
On the dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metscarpal bones.

LI5 Yangxi
On the radial side of the wrist between the extensor pollicis longus & brevis tendons in a depression formed when the thumb is tilted upward (anatomical snuffbox)

LI6 Pianli
3 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist (LI5) on the radial side of the forearm.

LI7 Wenliu
5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist (LI5) on the radial side of the forearm.

LI8 Xialian
4 cun below LI 11 on the radial side of the forearm on the line connecting LI5 and LI11

LI9 Shanglian
3 cun below LI 11 on the radial side of the forearm on the line connecting LI5 and LI11

LI10 Shousanli
2 cun below LI 11 on the radial side of the forearm on the line connecting LI5 and LI11

LI11 Quchi
With a bent elbow, the point lies in the depression at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease, midway between LU5 and the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

LI12 Zhouliao
With the elbow flexed, on the radial side of the upper arm 1 cun above and lateral to LI11 on the lateral/posterior border of the humerus.

LI13 Shouwuli
3 cun above LI11 on the line connecting LI11 and LI15 line. Avoid injuring artery when needling!

LI14 Binao
4 cun above LI13 at the inferior border of the deltoid, on the line connecting LI11 and LI15.

LI15 Jianyu
Anterior and inferior to the acromion, on the upper portion of the deltoid muscle, in a depression formed when the arm is in full abduction.

LI16 Jugu
Slightly posterior to the shoulder, in the depression between the acromion process and the scapular spine.

L17 Tianding
On the lateral side of the neck, 1 cun below LI 18 on the posterior border of the SCM muscle.

LI18 Futu
On the lateral sid of the neck, level with the tip of the Adam's Apple between the sternal head and the clavicular head of the SCM

LI19 Kouheliao
Directly below the lateral margin of the nostril 0.5 cun lateral to GV 26.

LI20 Yingxiang
In the nasolabial sulcus, level with the midpoint of the lateral border of the ala nasi.