The Neck and Windows of the Sky Points Flashcards
Ren 22 (W): TIANTU Heavenly Chimney
In the centre of the hollow at the top of the sternum.
About 1/2 cun superior to the supra-sternal notch. To needle this point angle the needle obliquely downwards posteriorly to the suprasternal notch 0.3 cun.
Ren 23: LIANQUAN Corner Spring
On the mid-line of the neck, just under the chin. Tilt the person’s head slightly up and feel down the mid-line from the chin to the top of the neck where you will find the hyoid bone, which feels like a smooth ring. The point lies in a depression at the superior edge of the hyoid bone.
Ren 24: CHENGJIANG Receiving Fluid
In the middle of the crease that lies on the chin beneath the lower lip. The depression is slightly easier to feel when the mouth is open.
St 9 (W): RENYING People Welcome
Look at your patient in profile in order to find the laryngeal prominence on her neck. Then find its highest point, or tip. The point will lie lateral to, and a little inferior to the level of this tip. Ask the person to turn her head to one side so that you may feel the lateral wing of the thyroid cartilage. On the lateral aspect of this wing you can feel how the cartilage flares out for its upper third. Keeping your finger in the angle of this flare ask the patient to bring her head back to facing forwards. Your finger is now at the position of St 9.
The carotid artery lies at the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and by pressing gently in this area you will be able to feel it’s pulsation. The point lies between the carotid artery and the lateral border of the thyroid cartilage.
LI 17: TIANDING Heavenly Vessel
Draw an imaginary line from LI 18 – St 12. The point lies on this line, at roughly 1 cun below LI 18, on the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. (St 12 is found in the supraclavicular fossa, posterior to the superior border of the clavicle at it’s midpoint, 4 cun lateral to the midline).
SI 16 (W): TIANCHUANG Heavenly Window
On the horizontal ring of points that runs out and slightly upwards from just below the Adam’s apple, through St 9 and LI 18. This point lies on that ring just posterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. If you stroke the back of the muscle very gently you can feel a slight depression at the point.
SI 17 (W): TIANRONG Heavenly Appearance
Posterior to the angle of the jaw and at that level, in the depression on the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
TB 16 (W): TIANYOU Heavenly Window
The point lies on the posterior border of the
sternocleidomastoid muscle approximately 1 cun inferior to GB 12 and just slightly superior to the level of SI 17.
(GB 12 is found by rolling your finger off the back of the mastoid process where you will fall into a depression, and is roughly on a horizontal level with DU 16).
Du 15: YAMEN Gate to Dumbness
On the mid- line of the neck, between C 1 and C 2 (the atlas and the axis). It lies at about 1/2 cun below Du 16 and roughly 1/2 cun above the natural hair-line.
Du 16 (W FENGFU Wind Treasury
This point lies
just below the occiput. Run your index finger up the mid-line of the spine of the neck, until you reach the base of the occiput. With your other hand on your patient’s forehead, gently rock the patient’s head backwards and forwards. This rocking will highlight the joint between the head and the neck. The point lies here just under the occiput.
This is roughly 1 cun superior to the natural hair-line.
GB 20: FENGCHI Wind Pond
Starting with your index finger on Du 16 (see location above) slide your finger out laterally over the trapezius muscle until you arrive at a large hollow (2.25 cun from the mid-line). The point is found here about 1 cun above the natural hair-line, and just below the base of the occiput. (It is worth rocking your patient’s head above your finger in order to be sure that you are below the occiput).
The hollow of the point lies half-way from the mid-line of the neck to the lower edge of the mastoid bone, in a recess between the trapezius and the sternocleidomastoid muscles.
Bl 10 (W) TIANZHU Heavenly Pillar
Starting with your finger on Du 15 (see location above) roll it out on to the trapezius. The point is here in a depression on the trapezius muscle, about 1.3 cun lateral to Du 15 and just inferior to the occiput.
On a person with a well-defined hair-line, it lies roughly 1/2 cun superior to the natural hair-line of the neck.
