title: [Discussion on the location of acupoints of the spleen meridian of foot-Taiyin in the abdominal region].
abstract: The four acupoints Fushe (SP 13), Fujie (SP 14), Daheng (SP 15) and Fuai (SP 16) (except SP 12 ) of the Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin in the abdomen are all 4 cun lateral to the abdominal midline. The origin of "4-cun" distance and the related explanations have not been found in any books including textbooks and related Chinese national standards about acupuncture and moxibustion. In the graphical representations, these 4 acupoints are directly below the nipple, because the nipple is 4 cun from the chest midline. The authors of the present paper don't think that is right, because in locating the acupoint, the nearest body surface anatomical landmarks should be used first as the basis. The abdomen and the chest are two anatomic sites after all, locating the abdominal acupoints with the chest surface landmarks often results in larger deviation, because many people's bodies are not so symmetrical and standard, and the adult abdominal fat difference is very big. Therefore, it is highly recommended that the abdominal acupoints are located by using the abdominal anatomical landmarks, for example, the outer edge of rectus abdominis, the outer edge of abdomen ,etc.
authors.affiliation: College of Acu-moxibustion and Massage, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. minghes@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Ming-He
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Hui-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Chao-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016740:Meridians; D013154:Spleen / Q000502:physiology; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology