（《灵枢·经脉篇》）
手太阴气绝则皮毛焦，太阴者行气温于皮毛者也，故气不荣则皮毛焦，皮毛焦则津液去皮节，津液去皮节者则爪枯
毛折，毛折者则毛先死，丙笃丁死，火胜金也。（手太阴者，肺也。肺主皮毛，故其气绝，则津液去于皮节而证在爪枯毛
折也。肺金畏火，故危于丙丁。）
手少阴气绝则脉不通，脉不通则血不流，血不流则髦色不泽，故其面黑如漆柴者血先死，壬笃癸死，水胜火也。（手
少阴者，心也。心主血脉，故心脉绝则血先死，其证在髦色不泽而面黑如漆也。心火畏水，故危于壬癸。髦音毛，发也。）
足太阴气绝者则脉不荣肌肉，唇舌者肌肉之本也，脉不荣则肌肉软，肌肉软则舌萎、人中满，人中满则唇反，唇反
者肉先死，甲笃乙死，木胜土也。（足太阴者，脾也。脾主肌肉，故脾气绝则肉先死，其证在人中满而舌萎唇反也。脾土
畏木，故死于甲乙。萎音威，色蔫枯也。）
足少阴气绝则骨枯，少阴者冬脉也，伏行而濡骨髓者也，故骨不濡则肉不能着也，骨肉不相亲则肉软却，肉软却故
齿长而垢、发无泽，发无泽者骨先死，戊笃己死，土胜水也。（足少阴者，肾也。肾属水，故为冬脉。肾主骨，故肾气绝
则骨先死。其证在骨肉不相亲附，则齿长而垢；精髓不能濡润，则发枯无泽也。肾水畏土，故死于戊己。垢音苟。）
足厥阴气绝则筋绝，厥阴者肝脉也，肝者筋之合也，筋者聚于阴气，（当作器。）而脉络于舌本也，故脉弗荣则筋急，
筋急则引舌与卵，故唇青舌卷卵缩则筋先死，庚笃辛死，金胜木也。（肝气绝者筋先死，其证则唇青舌卷而卵缩囊拳也。
肝木畏金，故死于庚辛。）
五阴气俱绝则目系转，转则目运，目运者为志先死，志先死则远一日半死矣。（五脏之精皆上注于目，故五阴气绝则
目转而运，志先死矣。盖志藏于肾，阴之神也，真阴已竭，死在周日间耳。今有病剧而忽尔目无所见者，正阴气竭绝之
候。）
六阳气绝则阴与阳相离，离则腠理发泄，绝汗乃出，故旦占夕死，夕占旦死。（汗本阴精，固于阳气，阳气绝则阴阳
相离，而腠理不闭，脱汗乃出，其死在顷刻间也。）
(From *Ling Shu: Jing Mai* [Spiritual Pivot: Meridian Channels])
When the Qi of the Hand-Taiyin [Meridian] is exhausted, the skin and hair become withered. The Hand-Taiyin [Meridian] circulates Qi to warm the skin and hair; therefore, if Qi fails to nourish, the skin and hair wither. When the skin and hair wither, body fluids are lost from the skin joints. When body fluids are lost from the skin joints, the nails become dry and brittle, and the hair breaks. Hair breaking indicates that the vitality of the hair has perished first. The condition worsens on Bing days and leads to death on Ding days, due to Fire overcoming Metal. (The Hand-Taiyin corresponds to the Lung. The Lung governs the skin and hair; thus, when Lung Qi is exhausted, body fluids depart from the skin joints, manifesting as dry nails and broken hair. Lung Metal fears Fire, so it faces danger on Bing and Ding days.)
When the Qi of the Hand-Shaoyin [Meridian] is exhausted, the vessels become obstructed. When vessels are obstructed, blood does not flow. When blood does not flow, the hair and complexion lose their luster. Therefore, a face black as lacquered charcoal indicates that the vitality of blood has perished first. The condition worsens on Ren days and leads to death on Gui days, due to Water overcoming Fire. (The Hand-Shaoyin corresponds to the Heart. The Heart governs the blood vessels; thus, when Heart vessels are exhausted, blood perishes first, manifesting as lusterless hair and a face black as lacquer. Heart Fire fears Water, so it faces danger on Ren and Gui days. "Mao" sounds like "Mao," referring to hair.)
When the Qi of the Foot-Taiyin [Meridian] is exhausted, the pulse cannot nourish the muscles. The lips and tongue are the root of the muscles. If the pulse cannot nourish, the muscles become flaccid. If muscles become flaccid, the tongue atrophies, and the philtrum becomes full. If the philtrum becomes full, the lips evert. Lip eversion indicates that the vitality of flesh has perished first. The condition worsens on Jia days and leads to death on Yi days, due to Wood overcoming Earth. (The Foot-Taiyin corresponds to the Spleen. The Spleen governs the muscles; thus, when Spleen Qi is exhausted, flesh perishes first, manifesting as a full philtrum, atrophic tongue, and everted lips. Spleen Earth fears Wood, so it dies on Jia and Yi days. "Wei" sounds like "Wei," referring to withered color.)
When the Qi of the Foot-Shaoyin [Meridian] is exhausted, the bones become withered. The Foot-Shaoyin [Meridian] is the Winter pulse, which travels deep within to moisten the bone marrow. Therefore, if bones are not moistened, flesh cannot adhere to them. If flesh and bone do not adhere closely, the flesh becomes flaccid and recedes. Due to flaccid and receding flesh, the teeth appear long and dirty, and the hair lacks luster. Lack of luster in the hair indicates that the vitality of bone has perished first. The condition worsens on Wu days and leads to death on Ji days, due to Earth overcoming Water. (The Foot-Shaoyin corresponds to the Kidney. The Kidney belongs to Water, hence it is called the Winter pulse. The Kidney governs the bones; thus, when Kidney Qi is exhausted, bone perishes first. Manifestations include non-adherence of flesh and bone, leading to long, dirty teeth; and inability of essence and marrow to moisten, leading to withered, lusterless hair. Kidney Water fears Earth, so it dies on Wu and Ji days. "Gou" sounds like "Gou.")
When the Qi of the Foot-Jueyin [Meridian] is exhausted, the sinews fail. The Foot-Jueyin [Meridian] is the Liver meridian. The Liver is the union of the sinews. Sinews gather at the genitalia [text suggests "qi" should be "qi" or "organ"] and connect to the root of the tongue. Therefore, if the pulse does not nourish, the sinews become tense and contracted. Tense sinews pull the tongue and the testicles. Thus, cyan lips, curled tongue, and retracted testicles indicate that the vitality of sinews has perished first. The condition worsens on Geng days and leads to death on Xin days, due to Metal overcoming Wood. (When Liver Qi is exhausted, sinews perish first, manifesting as cyan lips, curled tongue, and retracted testicles and scrotum. Liver Wood fears Metal, so it dies on Geng and Xin days.)
When the Yin Qi of the Five Zang Organs is completely exhausted, the eye connections twist. Twisting causes dizziness and vertigo. Dizziness indicates that the Shen [Spirit/Mind] has perished first. If the Shen perishes first, death occurs within one and a half days. (The essence of all five Zang organs ascends to the eyes; thus, when Yin Qi of the five Zang organs is exhausted, the eyes turn and cause vertigo, and the Shen perishes first. Since the Shen resides in the Kidney and is the Spirit of Yin, once True Yin is depleted, death occurs within a week. Currently, patients with severe illness who suddenly lose vision are exhibiting signs of Yin Qi exhaustion.)
When the Yang Qi of the Six Yang [Meridians] is exhausted, Yin and Yang separate. Separation causes the pores to open and sweat to leak out. Absolute sweat then appears. Therefore, if observed in the morning, death comes by evening; if observed in the evening, death comes by morning. (Sweat originates from Yin essence and is secured by Yang Qi. When Yang Qi is exhausted, Yin and Yang separate, the pores fail to close, and profuse sweat flows out. Death occurs within moments.)