title: [Three-dimensional reconstruction of the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin with continuous thin-section CT image].
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of TCM Pharmacy, Xiaolan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Zhongshan 528415, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Hui-jiao
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Zhen-jiao
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Xiao-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016740:Meridians; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods