Spleen Meridian - Foot Tai Yin - General Information

Submitted by yyh_staff on Tue, 2006-05-16 17:12.

  • Internal/External Pathways
    Originates at the tip of the big toe
    Goes up leg and crosses and goes in front of the Liver Meridian
    Enters Abdomen and enters the Spleen
    Enters Stomach and continues up to root of the tongue
    Another branch continues from the Stomach to the Heart
  • Measurements Needed
    Lower border of the Medial Condyle of the Tibia (SP 9) -to- Tip of the Medial Malleolus = 13 cun
    Upper border of the Symphysis Pubis -to- Medial epicondyle of the Femur = 18 cun
    Sternal Costal Angle -to- CV 8 = 8 cun
    Anterior Midline -to- Spleen Meridian on the Abdomen = 8 cun
    Anterior Midline -to- Spleen Meridian on the Chest = 6 cun
    Clavicular Lateral Measurement = 8 cun
    Axillary Fold -to- 11th Rib = 12 cun
    Upper Border of the Symphysis Pubis -to- Umbilicus (CV 8) = 5 cun
  • Precautions - [all]
    SP 6 - No Needle in Pregnancy
    SP 12 - Avoid Artery
  • Point Relationships
    SP 12 = 3.5 cun from CV 2
    SP 13 = 4 cun lateral to the AML between CV 2 & CV 3 .7 cun laterosuperior to SP 12
    SP 14 = Divide CV 6 & CV 7 in half (1.25 rounded to 1.3)
    SP 15 = 4 cun lateral to CV 8 (umbilicus)
    SP 20 = Directly below LU 1
  • Additional Helpful Information
  • SP 10 must have the knee flexed, use hand on the knee with fingers at a 45 degree angle and thumb facing the person - your thumb will be on the point.
  • SP 9 to the medial malleolus is 13 cun, subtract one cun from SP 9 to make 12 cun for measuring purposes on the leg.


Sources and More Information

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were used within this section:

  • Ferro, Barbara: New England School of Acupuncture, Point Location Lecture Notes
  • Hartstein, Rachel: New England School of Acupuncture, Actions & Effects Lecture Notes

For a complete list of valuable resources, see our Acupuncture Theory Resources section. The most recommended texts are below:


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