（灵枢脉度篇）
黄帝曰∶跷脉安起安止？何气荣水？（跷脉有二，曰阴跷，曰阳跷，皆奇经也。何气荣水，言跷脉为何经之气，乃
亦如经水之营行也。跷有五音，跷、皎、乔、脚，又极虐切。）岐伯答曰∶跷脉者，少阴之别，起于然骨之后，（少阴之
别，足少阴肾经之别络也。然骨之后，照海也，足少阴穴，即阴跷之所生。按∶本篇止言阴跷之起而未及阳跷，惟缪刺
论曰∶邪客于足阳跷之脉，刺外踝之下半寸所。盖阳跷为太阳之别，故二十八难曰∶阳跷脉者，起于跟中，循外踝上行，
入风池。阴跷者，亦起于跟中，循内踝上行，至咽喉，交贯冲脉。故阴跷为足少阴之别，起于照海，阳跷为足太阳之别，
起于申脉，庶得其详也。）上内踝之上，直上循阴股入阴，上循胸里，入缺盆，上出人迎之前，入 ，属目内 ，合于太
阳阳跷而上行，气并相还则为濡目，气不荣则目不合。（跷脉自内踝直上阴股、入阴、循胸里者，皆并足少阴而上行也。
然足少阴之直者，循喉咙而挟舌本。此则入缺盆，上出人迎之前，入 属目内 ，以合于足太阳之阳跷，是跷脉有阴阳
之异也。阴跷阳跷之气，并行回还而濡润于目。若跷气不荣，则目不能合。故寒热病篇曰∶阴跷阳跷，阴阳相交，阳入
阴，阴出阳，交于目锐 ，阳气盛则瞑目，阴气盛则瞑目。此所以目之暝与不瞑，皆跷脉为之主也。）黄帝曰∶气独行五
脏，不荣六腑何也？（帝以跷脉为少阴之别，因疑其气独行五脏，不荣六腑也，故有此问。）岐伯答曰∶气之不得无行也，
如水之流，如日月之行不休，故阴脉荣其脏，阳脉荣其腑，如环之无端，莫知其纪，终而复始。其流溢之气，内溉脏腑，
外濡腠理。（如水之流，如日月之行，皆言不得无行也。阴荣其脏，指阴跷也。阳荣其腑，指阳跷也。言无分脏腑，跷脉
皆所必至也。流者流于内，溢者溢于外，故曰流溢之气，内溉脏腑，外濡腠理，谓其不独在脏也。按∶此跷脉之义，阴
出阳则交于足太阳，阳入阴则交于足少阴，阳盛则目张，阴盛则目瞑，似皆随卫气为言者，故阴脉荣其脏，阳脉荣其腑
也。）黄帝曰∶跷脉有阴阳，何脉当其数？岐伯答曰∶男子数其阳，女子数其阴，当数者为经，其不当数者为络也。（跷
脉阴阳之数，男女各有所属。男属阳，当数其阳；女属阴，当数其阴。故男子以阳跷为经，阴跷为络；女子以阴跷为经，
阳跷为络也。）
Ling Shu: Mai Du Pian (Chapter on Pulse Lengths)
Huang Di asked: Where do the Qiao vessels originate and terminate? Which meridian's Qi circulates within them like water? (There are two Qiao vessels, namely the Yin Qiao vessel and the Yang Qiao vessel, both belonging to the Extraordinary Vessels. "Which meridian's Qi circulates" asks which meridian's Qi flows through the Qiao vessels like water in a channel. The character "Qiao" has five pronunciations: qiao, jiao, qiao, jiao, and ji nüe.)
Qi Bo replied: The Qiao vessels are the divergent branches of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, originating behind the Ran Gu acupoint. (The divergent branch of Foot-Shaoyin refers to the divergent branch of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Behind the Ran Gu refers to the Zhaohai [KI-6] acupoint, an acupoint of the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian, which is where the Yin Qiao vessel originates. Note: This chapter only mentions the origin of the Yin Qiao vessel and does not mention the Yang Qiao vessel. Only in the Miao Ci Lun (Chapter on Miraculous Puncture) does it say: "When pathogenic factors invade the Foot-Yang Qiao vessel, puncture half a cun below the lateral malleolus." Presumably because the Yang Qiao vessel is the divergent branch of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, the Nan Jing (Classic of Difficult Issues), Chapter 28, states: "The Yang Qiao vessel originates in the heel, ascends along the lateral malleolus, and enters the Fengchi [GB-20] acupoint. The Yin Qiao vessel also originates in the heel, ascends along the medial malleolus, reaches the throat, and intersects with the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel)." Therefore, the Yin Qiao vessel is the divergent branch of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, originating at Zhaohai [KI-6]; the Yang Qiao vessel is the divergent branch of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, originating at Shenmai [BL-62]. This provides a detailed account.) It then ascends above the medial malleolus, goes straight up along the medial thigh, enters the genital region, ascends along the interior of the chest, enters the Quepen [ST-12] acupoint, emerges anterior to the Yingchang [ST-9] acupoint, enters the inner canthus of the eye, attaches to the inner canthus, and joins with the Yang Qiao vessel of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian to ascend together. When the Qi of both vessels runs parallel and returns, it moistens the eyes; if the Qi fails to nourish, the eyes cannot close. (The Qiao vessels ascending straight from the medial malleolus along the medial thigh, entering the genital region, and following the interior of the chest all ascend alongside the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. However, the main trunk of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian runs along the throat and flanks the base of the tongue. Here, it enters the Quepen [ST-12] acupoint, emerges anterior to the Yingchang [ST-9] acupoint, enters the inner canthus of the eye, and attaches to the inner canthus to join with the Yang Qiao vessel of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. This indicates that the Qiao vessels have Yin and Yang distinctions. The Qi of the Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao vessels runs parallel and returns to moisten the eyes. If the Qi of the Qiao vessels fails to nourish, the eyes cannot close. Thus, the Han Re Bing Pian (Chapter on Cold and Heat Diseases) states: "The Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao vessels intersect; Yang enters Yin, and Yin exits Yang, intersecting at the outer canthus of the eye. When Yang Qi is abundant, the eyes close; when Yin Qi is abundant, the eyes open." This is why the opening and closing of the eyes, as well as sleep and wakefulness, are governed by the Qiao vessels.)
Huang Di asked: Why does the Qi circulate exclusively in the Five Zang Organs and fail to nourish the Six Fu Organs? (Since Huang Di considers the Qiao vessels to be the divergent branches of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, he suspects that their Qi circulates only in the Five Zang Organs and does not nourish the Six Fu Organs, hence this question.)
Qi Bo replied: Qi cannot but circulate, just as water flows and the sun and moon move without ceasing. Therefore, Yin meridians nourish the Zang Organs, and Yang meridians nourish the Fu Organs. Like a circle without beginning or end, its origins are unknowable, cycling endlessly from end to start. Its flowing and overflowing Qi irrigates the internal Zang and Fu Organs and moistens the external Couli (interstices). (Just as water flows and the sun and moon move, these phrases indicate that Qi cannot but circulate. "Yin meridians nourish the Zang Organs" refers to the Yin Qiao vessel. "Yang meridians nourish the Fu Organs" refers to the Yang Qiao vessel. This means that regardless of whether they are Zang or Fu organs, the Qi of the Qiao vessels must reach them. "Flowing" refers to movement inward, and "overflowing" refers to movement outward. Thus, it is said that the flowing and overflowing Qi irrigates the internal Zang and Fu Organs and moistens the external Couli, indicating that it is not confined solely to the Zang Organs. Note: Regarding the meaning of the Qiao vessels here, Yin Qiao exits to Yang and intersects with the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, while Yang Qiao enters Yin and intersects with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Abundant Yang Qi causes the eyes to open, and abundant Yin Qi causes the eyes to close. This seems to be discussed in relation to Wei Qi (Defensive Qi); thus, it is said that Yin meridians nourish the Zang Organs and Yang meridians nourish the Fu Organs.)
Huang Di asked: Since there are Yin and Yang Qiao vessels, which one counts towards the numerical total of the meridians?
Qi Bo replied: For men, the count includes the Yang Qiao vessel; for women, the count includes the Yin Qiao vessel. The one counted is considered a Jing Meridian (Regular Meridian), and the one not counted is considered a Luo Collateral. (The numerical attribution of Yin and Yang Qiao vessels differs between men and women. Men belong to Yang and should count the Yang Qiao vessel; women belong to Yin and should count the Yin Qiao vessel. Therefore, for men, the Yang Qiao vessel is the Jing Meridian and the Yin Qiao vessel is the Luo Collateral; for women, the Yin Qiao vessel is the Jing Meridian and the Yang Qiao vessel is the Luo Collateral.)