头部
项发以下至背,骨长二寸半。(自后发际以至大椎项骨三节处也)
【按】头部折法∶以前发际至后发际,折为一尺二寸。如发际不明,则取眉心,直上后至大杼骨,折作一尺
八寸,此为直寸。横寸法∶以眼内角至外角,此为一寸,头部横直寸法并根据此。
胸腹部
结喉以下至缺盆中,长四寸。(此以巨骨
上陷中而言,即天突穴处)缺盆以下 之中,长九寸。
胸围四尺五寸。
两乳之间,广九寸半。(当折八寸为当)
中下至天枢,长八寸。(天枢足阳明穴名,在脐旁,此指平脐而言)
天枢以下至横骨,长六寸半,横骨横长六寸半。(毛际下骨曰横骨)
【按】此古数,以今用上下穴法参较,多有未合,宜从后胸腹折法为当。
两髀之间,广六寸半。(此当两股之中,横骨两头之处,俗名髀缝)
【按】胸腹折法∶直寸以中行为之,自缺盆中天突穴起,至岐骨际上中庭穴止,折作八寸四分,自 上岐
骨际下至脐心,折作八寸,脐心下至毛际曲骨穴,折作五寸,横寸以两乳相去,折作八寸。胸腹横直寸法并根据此。
背部
膂骨以下至尾 二十一节,长三尺。(膂骨脊骨也,脊骨外小而内巨,人之所以能负任者,以是骨之巨也。脊
骨二十四节,今云二十一凶者,除项骨三节不在内。)
腰围四尺二寸。
【按】背部折法∶自大椎至尾 ,通折三尺,上七节各长一寸四分一厘,共九寸八分七厘;中七节各一寸六分
一厘,共一尺一寸二分七厘;第十四节与脐平,下七节各一寸二分六厘,共八寸八分二厘,共二尺九寸九分六厘,
不足四厘者,有零未尽也,直寸根据此,横寸用中指同身寸法。
脊骨内阔一寸,凡云第二行挟脊一寸半,三行挟脊三寸者,皆除脊一寸外,净以寸半三寸论,故在二行当为二
寸,在三行当为三寸半也。
侧部
自柱骨下行腋中不见者,长四寸。(柱骨,颈项根骨也。)
腋以下至季胁,长一尺二寸。(季胁,小肋也。)
季胁以下至髀枢,长六寸。(大腿曰股,股上曰髀楗,骨之下,大腿之上,两骨合缝之所,曰髀枢,当足少阳环跳穴
处也。)
髀枢下至膝中,长一尺九寸。
横骨上廉下至内辅之上廉,长一尺八寸。(骨际曰廉,膝旁之骨,突出者曰辅骨,内曰内辅,外曰外辅。)
内辅之上廉以下至下廉,长三寸半。(上廉、下廉可摸而得。)
内辅下廉下至廉,长三寸半。(上廉、下廉可摸而得。)
内辅下廉下至内踝,长一尺二寸。
内踝以下至地,长三寸。
四肢部
肩至肘,长一尺七寸。
肘至腕,长一尺二寸半。(臂之中节曰肘)
腕至中指本节,长四寸。(臂掌之交曰腕。)
本节至末,长四寸半。(指之后节曰本节。)
膝以下至外踝,长一尺六寸。
膝 以下至跗属,长一尺二寸。( ,腿湾也。跗,足面也。膝在前, 在后。跗属者,凡两踝前后胫掌
所交之处,皆为跗之属也。)
跗属以下至地,长三寸。
外踝以下至地,长一寸。
足长一尺二寸,广四寸半。
【按】骨度乃《灵枢经·骨度篇》之文,论骨之长短,皆古数也。然骨之大者则太过,小者则不及,此亦言
其则耳。其周身手足折量之法,用前中指同身寸法为是。同身寸量法,详刺灸书中。
\r人身正面全图\p04-a52a13.bmp\r
\r人身背面全图\p04-a52a14.bmp\r
\r骨度正面全图\p04-a52a15.bmp\r
\r骨度背面全图\p04-a52a16.bmp\r
\r骨度侧面全图\p04-a52a17.bmp\r
\r骨度正面尺寸图\p04-a52a18.bmp\r
\r骨度背面尺寸图\p04-a52a19.bmp\r
Head
From the hairline at the nape of the neck downwards to the back, the bone length is two and a half cun. (This refers to the distance from the posterior hairline to the third cervical vertebra spinous process where the Dazhui GV14 acupoint is located.)
[Note] The measurement method for the head: From the anterior hairline to the posterior hairline, it is measured as one chi two cun. If the hairline is unclear, measure vertically from the glabella (Yintang EX-HN3) to the Dazhu BL11 bone, measuring as one chi eight cun; this is referred to as the longitudinal inch (Zhi Cun). For the transverse inch (Heng Cun): The distance from the inner canthus to the outer canthus of the eye is taken as one cun. The standards for both longitudinal and transverse measurements of the head are based on this.
Chest and Abdomen
From the laryngeal prominence (Jiehou) down to the center of the Quepen (supraclavicular fossa), the length is four cun. (This refers to the depression in the center of the supraclavicular fossa, which is the location of the Tiantu CV22 acupoint.) From below the Quepen to the middle of the chest, the length is nine cun.
The circumference of the chest is four chi five cun.
The width between the two breasts is nine and a half cun. (It is more appropriate to measure this as eight cun.)
From Zhongwan CV12 downwards to Tianshu ST25, the length is eight cun. (Tianshu is the name of an acupoint belonging to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, located beside the umbilicus; here it refers to the level of the umbilicus.)
From Tianshu ST25 downwards to the Henggu (pubic bone), the length is six and a half cun; the transverse length of the Henggu is six and a half cun. (The bone below the pubic hair is called Henggu.)
[Note] These are ancient measurements. When compared with the current method of using upper and lower acupoints, they often do not match. It is more appropriate to adopt the later chest and abdominal measurement methods.
The width between the two thighs (Bi) is six and a half cun. (This refers to the space between the two thighs, at the ends of the Henggu bone, commonly known as the groin crease.)
[Note] The measurement method for the chest and abdomen: Longitudinal inches are measured along the midline. Starting from the Tiantu CV22 acupoint in the Quepen, up to the Zhongting CV12 acupoint above the xiphisternal junction, it is measured as eight cun four fen. From below the xiphisternal junction to the center of the umbilicus, it is measured as eight cun. From the center of the umbilicus to the Qugu CV2 acupoint at the pubic symphysis, it is measured as five cun. Transverse inches are measured by the distance between the two nipples, calculated as eight cun. The transverse and longitudinal measurement methods for the chest and abdomen are all based on this.
Back
From the spinal column (Lv Gu) down to the coccyx, comprising twenty-one segments, the total length is three chi. (Lv Gu refers to the spine. The spine is small externally but large internally; humans can bear weight because of the magnitude of this bone. There are twenty-four segments in the spine; the mention of twenty-one excludes the three cervical segments.)
The waist circumference is four chi two cun.
[Note] The measurement method for the back: From Dazhui GV14 to the coccyx, the total length is measured as three chi. The upper seven segments each measure one cun four fen one li, totaling nine cun eight fen seven li; the middle seven segments each measure one cun six fen one li, totaling one chi one cun two fen seven li; the fourteenth segment is level with the umbilicus, and the lower seven segments each measure one cun two fen six li, totaling eight cun eight fen two li. The sum is two chi nine cun nine fen six li, with less than four fen remaining due to unaccounted fractions. Longitudinal inches are based on this standard, and transverse inches use the middle finger proportional inch method.
The internal width of the spinal column is one cun. Whenever it mentions "two rows flanking the spine at one and a half cun" or "three rows flanking the spine at three cun," one must subtract the one-cun width of the spine itself. Therefore, the net distance for the second row is two cun, and for the third row, it is three and a half cun.
Lateral Side
From the Zhu Gu (neck base bone) descending to the invisible part within the axilla, the length is four cun. (Zhu Gu refers to the bone at the root of the neck.)
From below the axilla to the Ji Xie (lesser ribs), the length is one chi two cun. (Ji Xie refers to the false ribs.)
From below the Ji Xie to the Bi Shu (hip pivot), the length is six cun. (The thigh is called Gu. The upper part of the thigh is called Bi Jian. The area below the bone and above the thigh, where the two bones join, is called Bi Shu, corresponding to the Huantiao GB30 acupoint of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian.)
From below the Bi Shu to the center of the knee, the length is one chi nine cun.
From the upper margin of the Henggu to the upper margin of the Neifu (medial condyle), the length is one chi eight cun. (The edge of a bone is called Lian. The prominent bone beside the knee is called Fu Gu; the medial side is Neifu, and the lateral side is Waifu.)
From the upper margin of the Neifu downwards to its lower margin, the length is three and a half cun. (The upper and lower margins can be palpated.)
From the lower margin of the Neifu [to the next landmark], the length is three and a half cun. (The upper and lower margins can be palpated.)
From the lower margin of the Neifu to the medial malleolus, the length is one chi two cun.
From below the medial malleolus to the ground, the length is three cun.
Limbs
From the shoulder to the elbow, the length is one chi seven cun.
From the elbow to the wrist, the length is one chi two and a half cun. (The middle section of the arm is called the elbow.)
From the wrist to the proximal interphalangeal joint of the middle finger, the length is four cun. (The junction of the arm and palm is called the wrist.)
From the proximal interphalangeal joint to the tip of the finger, the length is four and a half cun. (The distal segment of the finger is called the proximal interphalangeal joint in this context.)
From below the knee to the lateral malleolus, the length is one chi six cun.
From below the knee to the foot dorsum connection (Fu Shu), the length is one chi two cun. (The popliteal fossa is the bend of the leg. Fu refers to the dorsum of the foot. The knee is anterior, and the popliteal fossa is posterior. Fu Shu refers to the areas where the tibia and foot sole intersect around the anterior and posterior aspects of both malleoli.)
From the Fu Shu downwards to the ground, the length is three cun.
From below the lateral malleolus to the ground, the length is one cun.
The length of the foot is one chi two cun, and its width is four and a half cun.
[Note] Bone measurements are derived from the "Bone Measurements" chapter of the *Ling Shu Jing*. They discuss the lengths of bones and represent ancient standards. However, individuals with larger bones may exceed these standards, while those with smaller bones may fall short; thus, these figures serve only as general guidelines. For measuring the limbs and extremities throughout the body, the middle finger proportional inch method mentioned earlier should be used. Detailed explanations of the proportional inch measurement method can be found in acupuncture and moxibustion texts.