title: Synchrotron radiation phase-contrast X-ray CT imaging of acupuncture points.
abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) topographic structures of acupuncture points were investigated by using synchrotron radiation in-line X-ray phase contrast computerized tomography. Two acupuncture points, named Zhongji (RN3) and Zusanli (ST36), were studied. We found an accumulation of microvessels at each acupuncture point region. Images of the tissues surrounding the acupuncture points do not show such kinds of structure. This is the first time that 3D images have revealed the specific structures of acupuncture points.
authors.affiliation: Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Dongming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xinyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chenglin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ruishan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Tiqiao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Peiping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D055806:Microvessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011817:Rabbits; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed