Gallbladder Channel of Foot – An Introduction
Gallbladder Channel of Foot Shaoyang 足少阳胆经
The Gallbladder Channel of foot Shaoyang originates from the outer canthus ascends to the corner of the forehead, and then descends to the posterior of the ear. Descending further along the neck to the shoulder, it enters the supraclavicular fossa. One branch emerges from behind the ear and enters the ear, re-emerging in front of the ear and then reaching the posterior aspect of the outer canthus. Another branch starts from the outer canthus, descends to the Daying (ST 5) and ascends to the infraorbital regions, passing near Jiache (ST 6) and descending along the neck where it joins the previous branch at the supraclavicular fossa. From there, it further descends into the chest, crosses the diaphragm to connect with the liver and pertain to the gallbladder. It then travels along the inside of the hypochondriac region to reach the femoral artery in the inguinal region, curving along the margin of the pubic hair and running transversely into the hip region. The straight branch of the channel descends from the supraclavicular fossa to the hip joint to meet the previous branch passing through the axillary region, the lateral side of the chest and the free ends of the floating ribs. It continues down the lateral aspect of the thigh and knee, descending along the anterior aspect of the fibula to reach the anterior aspect of the lateral malleolus. It then follows the dorsum of the foot to end on the lateral side of the tip of the 4th toe. One branch on the dorsum of the foot splits up and proceeds between the I st and 2nd metatarsal bones toward the tip of the big toe, then through nail of the big toe, ending at the hairy region of big toe, where it connects with the liver channel of Foot-Jueyin.
Indications: Disorders of the lateral sides of the head, eyes, ears, throat; Mental illness, Febrile disease and the conditions along the pathway.
Gallbladder Channel of Foot with name and location:
| No. | Name | Location |
| GB 1 | Tongziliao
瞳子髎 |
Beside the outer canthus, in the depression on the lateral side of the orbital margin. |
|
Tinghui 听会 |
In front of the intertragic notch, on the posterior border of the condylar process of the mandible in the depression when the mouth is open. | |
| GB 3 | Shanghuan
上关 |
In front of the ear , directly above xiaguan(ST7), in the depression on the upper border of the zygomatic arch. |
| GB 4 | Hanyan 颔厌 | At the junction of the upper ¼ and lower ¾ of the arc connecting touwei(ST8) and qubin(GB7). |
| GB 5 | Xuánlu 悬颅 | On the midpoint of the arc connecting Touwei (ST 8) and qubin(GB7). |
|
Xuánli 悬厘 |
At the junction of the upper 3/4 and lower 1/4 of the curved line connecting Touwei (ST 8) and Qubin (GB 7) | |
|
Qubin |
On the junction of the vertical line on the posterior border of the pre-auricular hairline level with the apex of the ear | |
| GB 8 | Shuaigu 率谷 | 1.5 cun from the apex of the ear straight into the hairline |
| Tianchong
天冲 |
2 cun from the posterior border of the ear straight into the hairline, 0.5 cun posterior to Shuaigu (GB 8) | |
|
Fubai 浮白 |
At the junction of the central 1/3 and upper 1/3 of the curved line connecting Tianchong(GB 9) and Wangbu(GB 12). | |
| Touqiaoyin
头窍阴 |
At the junction of the middle 1/3 and lower 1/3 of the arc connecting Tianchong(GB 9) and Wanggu (GB12) | |
| GB12 | Wanggu 完骨 | In the depression posterior and inferior to the mastoid process |
|
Benshen 本神 |
0.5 cun within the anterior hairline, 3 cun lateral to shenting( GV 24) at the junction of the inner 2/3 and lateral 1/3 of the curved line connecting shenting (GV 24) and touwei (ST 8) | |
|
Yangbai 阳白 |
Directly above the pulils when the eyes are looking straight ahead, 1 cun superior to the eyebrow. | |
| Toulingqi
头临泣 |
Directly above the pupils when the eyes are looking straight ahead, 0.5cun within the anterior hairline, at the midpoint of the line connecting Shenting(GV24) and Touwei(ST8) | |
| GB16 | Muchuang
目窗 |
1.5 cun within the anterior hairline, 2.25 cun lateral to the midline of the head |
| GB17 | Zhengying
正营 |
2.5 cun within the anterior hairline, 2.25 cun lateral to the midline of the head |
| GB18 | Chengling
承灵 |
4 cun within the anterior hairline, 2.25 cun lateral to the midline of the head |
|
Naokong 脑空 |
On the lateral side of the superior border of the external occipital protrberance, 2.5 cun lateral to the midline of the head. | |
|
|
Fengchi 凤池 |
In the depression between the upper portion of m.sternocleidomestoideus and m.trapezius, and the level with Fengfu(GV16).
|
|
Jianjing 肩井 |
Midpoint linking the line between Dazhui(GV14) and the shoulder acromion. | |
|
Yuanye 渊腋 |
On the axillary line , 3 cun below the axilla, in the 4th intercostals space. | |
| GB23 | Zhejin 辄筋 | 1 cun anterior to yuanye(GB 22) , at the level of the nipple, in the 4th intercostals space. |
| GB24 | Riyue 日月 | Directly below the nipple, 4 cun lateral to the anterior midline, in the 7th intercostal space. |
|
Jingmen 京门 |
1.8 cun posterior to zhangmen (LR 13), on the inferior free end of the 12th rib. | |
|
Daimai 带脉 |
1.8 cun posterior to Zhangmen(LR13), at the junction of the vertical line of the free end of the 11th rib and the horizontal line of the umbilicus. | |
|
Wushu 五枢 |
Anterior to the superior iliac spine, level with 3 cun below the umbilicus. | |
|
Weidao 维道 |
Anterior and inferior to the superior iliac spine , 0.5 cun anterior and inferior to Wushu(GB 27). | |
|
Juliao 居髎 |
On the midpoint of the line linking anterior-superior iliac spine and the prominence of the greater trochanter. | |
|
Huantiao 环跳 |
With the patient lying on the side with the upper hip and knee bent, the point is at the junction of lateral 1/3 and medial 2/3 of the line linking the prominence of greater trochanter and the sacro-coccygeal hiatus. | |
| GB31 | Fengshi 风市 | On the midline of the lateral aspect of the thigh, 7 cun above the transverse politeal crease. |
|
Zhongdu 中渎 |
2 cun inferior to Fengshi (GB 31), 5 cun superior to the popliteal crease between the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris | |
| Xiyangguan 膝阳关 | 3 cun superior to yanglianquan(GB 34) in the depression superior to the lateral epicondyle of the femur. | |
| Yanglingquan 阳陵泉 | In the depression anterior and inferior to the small head of the fibula.
|
|
|
Yangjiao 阳交 |
7 cun superior to the tip of the external mallelous, on the posterior border of the fibula. | |
|
Waiqiu 外丘 |
7 cun superior to the tip of the external mallelous, on the anterior border of the fibula, level with Yangjiao (GB 35). | |
| Guangming
光明 |
5 cun above the tip of the external malleolus, on the anterior border of the fibula.
|
|
|
Yangfu 阳辅 |
4 cun above the tip of the external malleolus, on the anterior border of the fibula.
|
|
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Xuanzhong 悬钟 |
3 cun above the tip of the external malleolus, on the posterior border of the fibula.
|
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|
Qiuxu 丘墟 |
Anterior and inferior to the external malleolus, in the depression on the lateral side of the tendon of m.extensor digitorum longus.
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|
Zulinqi 足临泣 |
In the depression distal to the junction of the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones, on the lateral side of the tendon of the extensor digiti minimi of the foot. | |
|
Diwuhui 地五会 |
In the depression distal to the junction of the 4th and 5th metatarsal bones, on the medial side of tendon of the extensor digitorum longus. | |
|
Xiaxi 侠溪 |
Between the 4th toe and little toe , proximal to the margin of the web, at the junction of the red and white skin | |
|
Zuqiaoyin 足窍阴 |
Headache, tinnitus, deafness, redness, swelling and pain in the eye, inflammation of the throat, distending pain in the chest and hypochondriac region, swelling and pain in the dorsum of the foot. |