The basic functions of the meridians and collaterals
This channel starts fromthe tip of the radial side of theindex (PointShangyang, Li1).It runs upwards along the radial side of the indexand passesbetweenthe ossa metacarpaliaIand 1I,goes into thecepressionbetween thetendonsofm.extensorpollicislongusandbrevis,then alongthe antero-lateral aspect of theforearmto thelateral side oftheelbow (PointQuchiLil).Alongthe anteriorborder of thelateral sideof theupper arm,it ascendsto the highestpoint of the shoulder(Point Jianyu,LIi5),and thengoes along theanteriorborder of the acromion up to 7th cervical vertebra (PointDazhui,DU14),fromwhere itcomesdownwardsintothesupraclavicular fossa and communicates with the lung.Descendingthrough the diaphragm, it enters its pertaining organ, the largeintestine.The branch channel from the supraclavicular fossa runs upwards tothe neck,passes through the cheek, and enters into the lower teethand gum. Then it curves round the lips and meets at PointRenzhong(DU26),orphiltrum.theverticalgrooveonthemid-lineofthe upperlip.From there thechannel oftheleft side turns rightwhile the right side channel turns left.They go upwards to bothsides of the wings of the nose(Point Yingxiang,LI2o)and connectwiththe StomachChannel of Foot-Yangming
Thebasicfunctions ofthemeridians and collateralsThere are two basic functions of the meridiansand collaterals. One is to connect the externalwith the internal as well as to connecttheviscera withotherorgans.The other istotransport gi, blood, yin and yang to nourish theviscera and the body.In physiology,pathologyand treatment,the meridians and the collateralsare responsiblefor the transmission andconduction of physiologicaland pathological information as well as theregulation of the physiological functions of thebody
To connectthe external withthe internal as well as toconnectthe viscera withotherorgansThe body is an organic whole.It is the meridiansand collaterals that connect theviscera,thebody,the five sensory organs andthe nineorificestogether.The meridians internallypertain to the viscera and externally connect thelimbs.Sincethemeridians arecomposed ofvarious collaterals of different levels,they haveformulated the wholebodyinto a network.There are three basicwayswithwhichthemeridians to connect all parts of the bodytogether
Therelationshipsbetweentheviscera,the body,the sensoryorgansandthe orificesThe connection between the externalandtheinternal as well as the viscera and other organsismainlyaccomplished by the twelve meridiansOn the one hand thetwelvemeridians and theirbranchesaccomplish such aconnection byemerging from the external of the body andentering the internal of the body.On the otherhand,they reinforce such a connection with thetwelve branches,twelvetendonsand twelve skindivisions