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(This meridian originates at the Jiquan [HT1] acupoint and terminates at the Shaochong [HT9] acupoint.)

The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian originates within the heart, emerges to connect with the Xinxi (tissues connecting the heart to other organs), descends through the diaphragm, and links with the Small Intestine. Its branch arises from the Xinxi, ascends along both sides of the pharynx, and connects with the Muxi (the system linking the eyeball to the brain). The main trunk, however, returns from the Xinxi to ascend into the lung, then descends to emerge from the axilla, follows the posterior medial aspect of the upper arm, runs posterior to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, descends into the elbow, follows the posterior medial aspect of the forearm, reaches the end of the ulnar styloid process (referred to as the "sharp bone" in the text), enters the posterior medial aspect of the palm, follows the medial side of the little finger, and exits at its tip.

When this meridian is disturbed, symptoms include dryness of the throat, heart pain, thirst with a desire to drink, which is termed "Bi Jue" (Arm Jue). This meridian governs diseases originating from the heart, including yellowing of the eyes, hypochondriac pain, pain or cold sensation in the posterior medial aspect of the arm, and heat and pain in the center of the palm. For these various conditions: excess patterns are treated by reducing; deficiency patterns are treated by tonifying; heat patterns are treated with rapid needle manipulation (quick insertion and withdrawal); cold patterns are treated by retaining the needle; sinking qi is treated with moxibustion; and patterns that are neither excess nor deficiency are treated by selecting points on the affected meridian itself. In excess patterns, the pulse at the Cunkou (radial artery) is twice as large as that at the Yingying (carotid artery); in deficiency patterns, the pulse at the Cunkou is smaller than that at the Yingying.

There are two parts of the Xinxi: one connects upward to the lung; the other extends downward from the lower lobe of the lung, curves backward, and connects via fine collaterals within the spine to the kidney, located precisely between the seventh vertebrae. This reflects how the heart connects with the systems of the five zang organs. The sharp bone refers to the styloid process below the wrist.

The Hand-Shaoyin meridian intersects with the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. It originates in the heart, runs outside the Renmai (Conception Vessel), connects with the Xinxi, descends through the diaphragm, and at the level of two cun above the umbilicus, links with the Small Intestine. Its branch emerges from the Xinxi, travels outside the Renmai, ascends to flank the pharynx, and connects with the Muxi. Of these two pathways, one descends and one ascends, both running internally within the body. The main trunk runs externally and constitutes the primary meridian pathway. From the Xinxi, it ascends to the region of the lung, emerges laterally along the axilla, reaches the Jiquan [HT1] acupoint, and from there descends along the posterior medial aspect of the upper arm, running posterior to the Hand-Taiyin Lung and Hand-Jueyin Pericardium meridians. It passes through the Qingling [HT12] acupoint, descends to the medial aspect of the elbow, reaches the Shaohai [HT3] acupoint, and from Shaohai continues down the posterior medial aspect of the forearm, passing through the Lingdao [HT4] and Tongli [HT5] acupoints, until it reaches the end of the ulnar styloid process. It then passes through the Yinxi [HT6] and Shenmen [HT7] acupoints, enters the medial aspect of the palm, reaches the Shaofu [HT8] acupoint, follows the tip of the little finger to terminate at the Shaochong [HT9] acupoint, thereby intersecting with the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. Because the heart is the sovereign official and holds a position of honor superior to other zang organs, its meridian connections and transmissions do not require auxiliary collateral branches for communication.