（形如未敷莲花，居肺下膈上，附着于脊中第五椎）《灵枢》曰∶手少阴之脉，起于心中（心
为手少阴经，故脉发于心中），出属心系（心当五椎之下，其系有五∶上系连肺，肺下系心，心下三系连脾、
肝、肾。故心通五脏之气，而为之主也），下膈，络小肠（心与小肠为表里，故下膈，当脐上三寸下脘之分，
络小肠也）；其支者，从心系，上挟咽，系目系（支者，从心系出任脉之外，上行挟咽，系目系，以合于目内
）；其直者，复从心系，却上肺，下出腋下（直者，经之正脉也，此自前心系复上肺，由足少阳渊腋之次出
腋下，上行极泉穴，手少阴经行于外始此），下循 内后廉，行太阴、心主之后（ 内后廉，青灵穴也。手之
三阴，少阴居太阴、厥阴后），下肘内，循臂内后廉（少海、灵道等穴）、抵掌后锐骨之端（手腕下踝为锐骨，
神门穴也），入掌内后廉（少府穴也），循小指之内出其端（少冲穴也，少阴经止于此，乃交小指外侧，而接
乎手太阳经也）。其别，名曰通里，去腕一寸半，别而上行，循经入于心中，系舌本，属目系。其实则支膈，
虚则不能言，取之掌后一寸，别走太阳也（手少阴之络，名通里，在腕后一寸陷中，别走手太阳者也。此经入
心下膈，故邪实则支膈，谓膈间若有所支而不畅也。其支者上系舌本，故虚则不能言，当取通里，或补或泄，
以治之也）。其正别入渊腋两筋之间，属于心，上走喉咙，出于面，合目内 ，此为四合也（手少阴之正，自
腋下二寸，足少阳渊腋之次，行两筋之间，内属于心，与手太阳之腋走心者合，乃上行挟于咽，出于面，合于
目内 ，是当与足太阳睛明相会矣，此六合之四）。其筋起于小指之内侧（少冲之次），结于锐骨（神门次也），
上结肘内廉（少海穴也），上入腋（极泉之穴），交太阴，挟乳里（交手太阴之筋，斜络挟乳内行。此经自指
至腋，皆刚筋也），结于胸中，循臂（当作贲），下系于脐（自乳里内行，结于胸中，与三阴之筋合。盖心主、
少阴之筋，皆与太阴合于贲而下行也）。是动则病嗌干心痛，渴而欲饮，是为臂厥。是主心所生病者，目黄胁
痛， 臂内后廉痛厥，掌中热。盛者寸口大再倍于人迎，虚者寸口反小于人迎也。
(The heart resembles an unopened lotus flower, located below the lungs and above the diaphragm, attached to the fifth thoracic vertebra of the spine.) The *Ling Shu* states: The Hand-Shaoyin [Heart] meridian originates from within the Heart (The Heart belongs to the Hand-Shaoyin meridian, thus the pulse qi emanates from within the Heart), emerges and connects to the Heart system (The Heart is situated below the fifth thoracic vertebra; its "system" has five connections: the upper connection links to the Lungs, the lower connection of the Lungs links to the Heart, and three lower connections of the Heart link to the Spleen, Liver, and Kidneys. Therefore, the Heart communicates with the Qi of the Five Zang organs and serves as their master), descends through the Diaphragm, and interconnects with the Small Intestine (The Heart and Small Intestine are exteriorly-interiorly related, thus it descends through the Diaphragm, approximately at the level of Xiawan [CV10], three cun above the umbilicus, to connect with the Small Intestine); its branch arises from the Heart system, ascends along both sides of the pharynx, and connects to the Eye system (The branch emerges from the Heart system outside the Ren Mai, ascends along the pharynx, connects to the Eye system, and merges into the interior of the eye); its main trunk again rises from the Heart system to the Lungs, then descends to emerge from the axilla (The main trunk is the primary pathway of the meridian; this path returns from the anterior Heart system to the Lungs, exits the axilla beside Yuanye [GB22] of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder meridian, ascends to Jiquan [HT1], where the Hand-Shaoyin meridian begins its course on the lateral aspect of the body), descends along the posterior medial border of the arm, running posterior to the Hand-Taiyin Lung meridian and Hand-Jueyin Pericardium meridian (The posterior medial border of the arm refers to Qingling [HT9]. Among the three Yin meridians of the hand, the Shaoyin meridian is located posterior to the Taiyin and Jueyin meridians), passes down the interior of the elbow, and follows the posterior medial border of the forearm (passing acupoints such as Shaohai [HT3] and Lingdao [HT4]), reaches the tip of the styloid process of the ulna (the malleolus-like bone below the wrist is the sharp bone, where Shenmen [HT7] is located), enters the posterior medial aspect of the palm (where Shaofu [HT8] is located), follows the medial side of the little finger to its tip (where Shaochong [HT9] is located; the Hand-Shaoyin meridian terminates here, connecting laterally with the little finger to join the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine meridian). Its collateral is named Tongli (HT5), located one and a half cun distal to the wrist crease, branches off and ascends, follows the meridian into the Heart, connects to the root of the tongue, and attaches to the Eye system. In excess conditions, there is distension and fullness in the chest and diaphragm; in deficiency conditions, speech is impaired. Treatment involves taking the point one cun behind the wrist, where the collateral diverges to the Taiyang meridian (The collateral of the Hand-Shaoyin meridian is named Tongli, located in the depression one cun behind the wrist, diverging to the Hand-Taiyang meridian. This meridian enters the Heart and descends through the Diaphragm; thus, when pathogenic factors are in excess, it causes distension in the diaphragm, meaning a sensation of obstruction or discomfort in the epigastric region. Since its branch connects to the root of the tongue, deficiency leads to inability to speak; one should tonify or sedate Tongli to treat it). Its regular branch enters between the two tendons near Yuanye, attaches to the Heart, ascends to the throat, emerges on the face, and meets at the inner canthus of the eye; this constitutes the fourth convergence (The regular branch of the Hand-Shaoyin meridian starts two cun below the axilla, beside Yuanye [GB22] of the Foot-Shaoyang meridian, runs between the two tendons, internally attaches to the Heart, and converges with the Hand-Taiyang meridian that travels from the axilla to the Heart; it then ascends along the pharynx, emerges on the face, and meets at the inner canthus of the eye, which should converge with Jingming [BL1] of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridian; this is the fourth of the six convergences). Its sinews originate from the medial side of the little finger (following Shaochong), knot at the sharp bone (following Shenmen), ascend and knot at the medial aspect of the elbow (Shaohai [HT3]), ascend into the axilla (Jiquan [HT1]), intersect with the Hand-Taiyin meridian, and run along the medial aspect of the breast (intersecting with the sinews of the Hand-Taiyin meridian, obliquely networked along the medial breast. From finger to axilla, all these are firm sinews), knot in the chest, and follow the cardia (the text "arm" should be read as "cardia"), descending to tie to the umbilicus (running inward from the medial breast, knotting in the chest, and combining with the sinews of the three Yin meridians. Generally, the sinews of the Pericardium and Hand-Shaoyin meridians combine with those of the Hand-Taiyin meridian at the cardia and descend). When this meridian is disturbed, disease manifests as dryness of the throat, heart pain, thirst with desire to drink, known as Bi Jue [Arm Jue]. This meridian governs diseases generated by the Heart, manifesting as yellow eyes, hypochondriac pain, pain and coldness in the posterior medial aspect of the arm, and heat in the palm. In excess conditions, the Cun Kou pulse is twice as large as the Ying Chong pulse; in deficiency conditions, the Cun Kou pulse is smaller than the Ying Chong pulse.