Acupuncture Meridians
- Most people are only familiar with the 12 Primary plus 2 of the Extraordinary Meridians
- Those 14 Meridians all have their own unique acupuncture points
- Other Meridians either have no points or “borrow” points from other Meridians
- There are 72 Meridians in all
12 Primary Meridians
- Internal and external pathways
- 6 yin and 6 yangs
- Bilaterally symmetrical
- Circulation of qi and blood throughout is cyclical
12 Divergent Meridians
- Named after and related to the Primary Meridians
- Provide deeper connections in the body, to the organs, head, and face, and to the yang Meridians of each yin/yang pair
12 Tendinomuscular Meridians
- Named after and related to the Primary Meridians
- Broader areas than the Primary Meridians
- Circulation of qi and blood to the muscles, tissues, joints, and the body surface
12 Cutaneous Regions
- Named after and related to the Primary Meridians
- Broader areas than the Primary Meridians
- Circulation of qi and blood to the skin and tissues of the body surface
- No internal distribution
8 Extraordinary Meridians
- Distributed throughout body except in the upper extremities
- Store qi and blood and distribute to the 12 Primary Meridians
- Control and supplement the 12 Primary Meridians
- Only 2 of the Extraordinary Meridians have their own points
- Du (Governing) Meridian—midline of the back of the body
- Ren (Conception) Meridian—midline of the front of the body
16 Major Luo (Collateral) Meridians
- 12 are named after and related to the 12 Primary Meridians
- The Spleen and Stomach Meridians each have an extra Major Luo Meridian
- 2 are named after and related to 2 of the Extraordinary Meridians: Du, Ren
- Distribution is mainly to the surface of the body and between yin/yang paired Meridians
- Many Small Luo Meridians
- Minute, blood, grandson, and superficial
- Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao Meridians
- 2 of the 8 Extraordinary Meridians
- They “borrow” Acupuncture points from other Meridians
