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The Small Intestine Meridian has nineteen acupoints. The pathway starts from Shaose (SI 1), passes through the prominent areas of Qian Gu (SI 2) and Hou Xi (SI 3), follows the course of Wang Gu (SI 4), observes the elevated points of Yang Gu (SI 8) and Yang Lao (SI 6), meets at Zhi Zheng (SI 7) and Xiao Hai (SI 8), and follows Jian Zhen (SI 9). It encounters Shu Yu (SI 10) and Tian Zong (SI 11), rides Bing Feng (SI 12) within Qu Yuan (SI 13). Jian Wai Shu (SI 14) connects with Jian Zhong Shu (SI 15); opening Tian Chuang (SI 16) reveals Tian Rong (SI 17). Without passing through the depression below the zygomatic bone, how can one reach Ting Gong (SI 19)?

Shaose is located at the outer end of the little finger. Qian Gu is sought on the lateral side of the metacarpophalangeal joint anteriorly. Hou Xi is obtained by making a fist posteriorly. Wang Gu is found in the depression on the lateral side anterior to the wrist bone. Yang Gu is explored in the depression below the styloid process of the ulna. Yang Lao is named one cun above the wrist crease. Zhi Zheng is measured five cun posterior to the wrist. Xiao Hai is good at five fen medial to the elbow tip. Jian Zhen is located between two bones below HT (Taiyin Lung Meridian). Shu Yu is examined in the depression below the large bone (below the large bone, above the upper border of HT, take the point with arm raised). Tian Zong is in the bony depression posterior to Bing Feng. Bing Feng has an empty space when the arm is raised laterally (lateral to Tian Zong, posterior to the shoulder muscle, there is a gap when the arm is raised). Qu Yuan is in the depression where the shoulder curves. Wai Yu follows one cun posterior to HT (i.e., Wai Jian Shu, above the upper border of Jian Yu, three cun from the spine). Jian Zhong is two cun lateral to Da Zhu. Tian Chuang is detailed in the depression posterior to Fu Tu (anterior to the large tendon of the neck, posterior to Fu Tu under the mandible angle, in the pulsating depression). Tian Rong is posterior to the curved mandible below the ear. Quan Gu marks the sharp end of the facial bone (lower border of the cheekbone, in the depression at the sharp bone end). Ting Gong is at the ear end, size like a soybean (pearl-like in the ear, size like a red adzuki bean). This constitutes the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian.

[Image: Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian Diagram]

[Image: Bladder Organ Diagram]
The bladder weighs nine liang and two zhu, measures nine cun in length and width, holds nine sheng and nine he of urine, and is two and a half cun wide.
The *Jia Yi Jing* states: "Pang" means transverse; "Guang" means broad, describing its body as transverse, broad, and short.
The Foot-Taiyang Meridian belongs to the Bladder. The Bladder is the official of the "Zhou Du" (Metropolis), where fluids are stored; only through Qi transformation can they be discharged. The annotation explains: Positioned as a solitary fu organ, it is called the Du Official. Located in the lower interior and hollow, it readily accepts dampness, thus storing fluids. If it receives the transformative power of the Qi Sea, urination flows freely; if the Qi of the Qi Sea is insufficient, obstruction occurs, hence "Qi transformation allows discharge." The term "solitary fu" refers to the fact that while other fu organs have openings connecting them superiorly and inferiorly, the Gallbladder and Bladder lack such direct connections with other fu organs. The Gallbladder and Liver are exterior-interior paired; the Gallbladder lies within the Liver, their forms united, so it is not considered solitary. Although the Bladder and Kidney are exterior-interior paired and their Qi and Blood connect, their forms do not unite. The Bladder resides alone below the zang-fu organs, which is why it is called the solitary fu. The body of the bladder weighs nine liang and two zhu, measuring two cun in length and width. It is located anterior to the Kidneys, lateral to the Large Intestine, corresponding to the position of the Shui Fen acupoint, one cun above the umbilicus. The lower outlet of the Small Intestine is the upper boundary of the Bladder. The Bladder has a lower outlet but no upper inlet; it does not directly connect with the Small Intestine's mouth but is connected via fatty membranes. These membranes wrap around the bladder like a cotton ball and are interconnected with the great collateral of the Spleen and the fatty membranes of other organs. Thus, dampness from the Spleen can also seep into the Bladder and transform into urine. However, this differs from the network systems within the fatty membranes that connect superiorly to the lower outlet of the Small Intestine and the upper inlet of the Large Intestine, converging at the Lan Men (Gate of Filth), which controls food and fluid, separating clear from turbid here. The most turbid part enters the Large Intestine; the clearer turbid part seeps into the Bladder via the fatty membrane networks to become urine. The Bladder truly has no upper inlet; the claim that it has one is incorrect. Medical texts state: The flavors of food enter the Stomach as Qi, rely on the Spleen's transportation and transformation, and all become dampness, much like steam in a steamer. The steam rises and spreads, filling the body cavity. The light and clear parts ascend to form Ying Blood, Clear Qi, and Body Fluids; the fierce and rapid parts become Wei Qi. The most turbid among the turbid enters the Small and Large Intestines to become feces; the clearer among the turbid seeps into the Bladder to become urine. Before entering, it is still dampness; after entering, it transforms into urine, traveling through a single tube directly to the external genitalia for excretion. There is also a seminal duct, running along the waist and spine, circling the right side of the Large Intestine, and exiting together at the external genitalia. However, the seminal duct is below the urinary duct and merges into a single opening at the glans penis. This meridian contains abundant blood and little Qi; its Qi and Blood flow into it during the Shen hour (3-5 PM).

Its clinical manifestations include: severe headache, eyes feeling as if they will pop out, pain on both sides of the head, tearing, everted umbilicus, lower limb swelling, pus and blood in stool, muscle wasting, neck stiffness as if being pulled, lower abdominal distension, and the urge to urinate upon pressure but inability to do so.

The meridian pathway originates at Jingming (BL 1) in the inner canthus of the eye, receiving intersection from the Hand-Taiyang meridian. It ascends to the forehead, following Cuanzhu (BL 2), passes through Shenting (DU 24) of the Du Meridian, traverses Qucha (BL 6), Wuchu (BL 7), Chengguang (BL 7 - *Note: Text says Chengguang, usually BL 7 is Chengguang, BL 6 is Qucha*), Tongtian (BL 7 - *Note: Text lists Chengguang then Tongtian*), and Tongtian (BL 7). From Tongtian, it runs obliquely, crossing left and right at Baihui (DU 20) of the Du Meridian on the vertex. From there, a branch reaches the upper angle of the ear, passing through Lvgu (GB 8), Fubai (GB 12), and Qiaoyin (GB 11) of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, dispersing to nourish various meridians. The main straight branch proceeds from Tongtian, following Luoque (BL 9) and Yuzhen (BL 11), entering the brain, re-emerging to descend to the nape, reaching Tianzhu (BL 10). Descending from Tianzhu, it connects with Dazhui (DU 14) and Taodao (DU 11) of the Du Meridian, then follows the medial aspect of the scapula, flanking the spine, descending one and a half cun lateral to the spine, traversing Dazhu (BL 11), Fengmen (BL 12), Feishu (BL 13), Jueyinshu (BL 14), Xinshu (BL 15), Geshushu (BL 17), Ganshu (BL 18), Danshu (BL 19), Pishu (BL 20), Weishu (BL 21), Sanjiaoshu (BL 22), Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Xiaochangshu (BL 27), Pangguangshu (BL 28), Zhonglushu (BL 29), and Baihuan Shu (BL 54). It then reaches the middle of the waist, enters the sacral region, links with the Kidney, and belongs to the Bladder. Another branch arises from the waist, follows the lumbar hip, descends flanking the spine, traversing Shangliao (BL 32), Ciliao (BL 33), Zhongliao (BL 34), and Xialiao (BL 35), meeting Huiyang (BL 36), descending through the buttocks to Chengfu (BL 36) and Yinmen (BL 37), Fuping (BL 38), and Weiyang (BL 39), entering the popliteal fossa at Weizhong (BL 40). Another main branch descends from Tianzhu, diverging left and right from the shoulders, descending through the scapular sacral region, traversing Fufen (BL 41), Pohu (BL 42), Gaohuang (BL 43), Shentang (BL 44), Yexi (BL 45), Ge Guan (BL 47), Hunmen (BL 47), Yanggang (BL 48), Yishe (BL 49), Weicang (BL 50), Yumen (BL 51), Zhishi (BL 52), Baomang (BL 53), and Zhibian (BL 54). It continues down through the sacrum and buttocks, passing the Bitshu (hip pivot) of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, following the posterior-lateral border of the thigh, inside the femur, between one and a half cun lateral to Chengfu, merging with the previously mentioned branch entering the popliteal fossa. The main branch continues downward, following Heyang (BL 56) down through the calf, traversing Chengjin (BL 57), Chengshan (BL 57), Feiyang (BL 58), and Fujyang (BL 59), emerging posterior to the lateral malleolus at Kunlun (BL 60), Pucan (BL 61), Shenmai (BL 62), and Jinmen (BL 63). It follows Jinggu (BL 64), Shugu (BL 65), and Tonggu (BL 66), reaching Zhiyin (BL 67) at the lateral end of the little toe, intersecting with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, ascending from Yongquan (KI 1) and Ranggu (KI 2).