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Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine ›› 2012, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (12): 1400-1404.doi: 10.3736/jcim20121211

• Original Clinical Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Three-dimensional reconstruction of the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin with continuous thin-section CT image

Hui-jiao Liang1, Zhen-jiao Liang2, Xiao-ping Wang3   

  1. 1. Department of TCM Pharmacy, Xiaolan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Zhongshan 528415, Guangdong Province, China
    2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xiaolan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Zhongshan 528415, Guangdong Province, China
    3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xiaolan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Zhongshan 528415, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2012-07-08 Accepted:2012-07-16 Online:2012-12-20 Published:2018-12-15

Objective: To explore anatomical material basis of the lung meridian and its three-dimensional position in vivo.
Methods: Continuous thin-section CT image sets were collected from a normal adult female volunteer’s left upper extremity after she was acupunctured at 8 acupoints in Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin (LU). The connective tissue around the needle-tip of LU acupoints in continuous thin-section CT image sets was observed. The LU acupoints and part of the meridian were three-dimensional reconstructed in vivo and displayed with digital medical technology based on the CT-scan data. Then, the images were compared with traditional meridian records.
Results: The connective tissue structure around the needle-tip of the eight LU acupoints was observed as follows: 5 acupoints were closely related to periosteum and 3 of them were closely related to blood vessels and nerve sheath. Three-dimensional reconstruction of anatomical position of the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin was successfully completed in vivo, and the traveling course of meridian was similar to classical meridian illustration in traditional Chinese medicine.
Conclusion: There is no specific entity of anatomical structure of LU acupoints and the meridian. The fascia and connective tissue may be the anatomical basis of meridian.

Key words: meridians, meridian line detection, lung meridian, points,lung meridian, meridian essence, imaging,three-dimensional, nontherapeutic human experimentation

Figure 1

Location and acupoints of needling Before the continuous thin-section CT image sets were collected, eight acupoints of the Lung Meridian of Hand Taiyin (LU) in left upper limb were acupunctured. After arriving of “qi”, the needles were remained for 30 min."

Figure 2

Three-dimensional reconstruction and visualization of LU digital meridian in vivo and detailed cross-sectional anatomic relationships of 8 acupoints Eight CT-scan images showed the needle tips of acupoints of the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin (LU). Detailed anatomic sites of Shaoshang, Yuji and other eight acupoints and part of the meridian of LU were displayed in three-dimension images."

Figure 3

Comparison between the three-dimensional digital meridian of LU and classical TCM meridian illustration"

Table 1

Relationship between connective tissue and the tip of 8 LU acupoints in thin CT images"

Acupoint Needling depth (Cun) 5 mm diameter connective tissue involved around the tip of 8 acupoints of LU
Shaoshang
0.1
Radial side periosteum of the distal phalanx of the thumb
Yuji
0.3
Volaris periosteum of the first metacarpal bone
Taiyuan
0.3
Tendon of abductor pollicis longus and the radial vascular sheath
Jingqu
0.3
Radial vascular sheath and radial bone periosteum
Lieque 0.3 The radial periosteum
Kongzui
0.8
Pronator teres and the radial bone periosteum
Chize 1.0 Sheath of the radial nerve
Xiabai
0.8
Cephalic vein wall, biceps brachii and brachialis muscles
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