起于胸中,出属心包络,下膈,历络三焦,其支者,循胸中出胁,下腋三寸,上抵腋,下循 内,行太阴、少阴之
间,入肘中,下臂行两筋之间,入掌中,循中指出其端;其支者,别掌中,循小指次指出其端。是动则病手心热,臂肘
挛急,腋肿,甚则胸胁支满,心中 大动,面赤目黄,喜笑不休。是主脉所生病者,烦心心痛,掌中热,为此诸病。
此言心胞络经脉气之行,乃为第九经也。胁上际为腋。小指次指,即手小指之次指,乃无名指也,盖自小指而逆数
之故云然。手厥阴心包络经之脉,起于胸中,出属心下之包络,受足少阴肾经之交也,由是下膈,历络于膻中、中脘及
阴交之三焦(脐下一寸为阴交);其支者,自属心包,上循胸出胁,下腋三寸天池穴,上行抵腋下,上循 内之天泉,
以界手太阴肺经、手少阴心经两经之中间,入肘中之曲泽穴,又由肘中下臂,行臂两筋之间,循 门、间使、内关、
大陵入掌中劳宫,循中指出其端中冲;其支别者,从掌中循无名指,出其端,而交于手少阳三焦经也。故其变动则有掌
热等症。
\r手厥阴心包络图\p06-d32a19.bmp\r
心包络,在心下横膜之上、竖膜之下,与横膜相粘而黄脂裹者,心也。其脂膜之外有细筋膜如丝,与心肺相连
者,心包也。此经本有名有形,其经络起于腋下之天地,而止于中指之中冲。其藏在心之下,有黄脂裹心者是也。其脉
在右手尺中,后世不知有此经者非。
《灵枢·本输》篇云∶心出于中冲云云。《邪客》篇∶心主之脉出于中指之端云云。又云∶手少阴之脉,
独无输何也?岐伯曰∶少阴,心脉也。心者,五藏六府之大主也,精神之所舍也。其藏坚,固邪弗能客也。
客之则心伤,心伤则神去,神去则死矣。故诸邪之在于心者,皆在于心之包络。包络者,心主之脉也,故独无
输焉。黄帝曰∶少阴独无输者,不病乎?岐伯曰∶其外经病而藏不病,故独取其经于掌后锐骨之端。其余出
入屈折,其行之疾徐,皆如手少阴心主之脉行也。故本输者,皆固其气之虚实疾徐以取之。
The meridian originates in the chest, emerges to connect with the Pericardium (Pericardium), descends through the diaphragm, and successively connects with the Triple Burner (Triple Burner). Its branch follows the chest, emerges to the hypochondrium, descends three cun below the axilla, ascends to reach the axillary fossa, and then descends along the medial aspect of the upper arm, running between the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. It enters the elbow center, descends along the forearm running between the two tendons, enters the palm, and follows the middle finger to its tip. Another branch diverges from the palm, follows the ring finger to its tip. When this meridian is affected, it causes heat in the palms, spasm and stiffness of the arms and elbows, swelling of the axilla; in severe cases, it causes a feeling of fullness and distension in the chest and hypochondrium, violent palpitations, red face, yellow eyes, and uncontrollable laughter. This meridian primarily governs diseases related to the vessels, such as vexation, heart pain, and heat in the palms; these are all illnesses caused by this meridian. The above discusses the circulation of Qi in the Pericardium meridian, which is the ninth meridian. The edge of the armpit is called the axilla. "The finger next to the little finger" refers to the finger adjacent to the little finger of the hand, i.e., the ring finger, because it is counted backwards starting from the little finger. The Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian originates in the chest, emerges to connect with the Pericardium located below the heart, receiving the connection from the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. From there, it descends through the diaphragm and successively connects with the Triple Burner areas at Danzhong (CV17), Zhongwan (CV12), and Yinjiao (CV10, one cun below the umbilicus). Its branch arises from the Pericardium, ascends along the chest to emerge into the hypochondrium, descends to the Tianchi (PC1) acupoint three cun below the axilla, ascends to reach the axillary fossa, runs along the Tianquan (PC2) acupoint on the medial aspect of the upper arm, situated between the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, enters the Quze (PC3) acupoint at the elbow center, and then descends from the elbow along the forearm, running between the two tendons. It passes through Ximen (PC4), Jianshi (PC5), Neiguan (PC6), and Daling (PC7), enters the Laogong (PC8) acupoint in the palm, follows the middle finger to its tip at Zhongchong (PC9). Its divergent branch leaves the palm, follows the ring finger, exits at its tip, and connects with the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. Therefore, its pathological changes include symptoms such as heat in the palm.
Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Diagram
The Pericardium is located above the transverse membrane and below the vertical membrane below the heart, adhering to the transverse membrane and wrapped in yellow fat, which constitutes the heart itself. Outside this fatty membrane, there are fine fibrous strands like silk connecting to the heart and lungs, which constitute the Pericardium. This meridian has both a name and a physical form. Its meridian pathway starts at Tianchi (SI11/PC1 context implies PC1 here, though text says Tian Di, likely typo for Tian Chi) in the axilla and ends at Zhongchong (PC9) in the middle finger. Its organ is stored below the heart, wrapped in yellow fat. Its pulse is reflected at the Chi position of the right wrist. Those in later generations who deny the existence of this meridian are incorrect.
The *Lingshu: Benshu* chapter states: "Heart emerges from Zhongchong..." The *Xieke* chapter states: "The meridian of the Heart Master emerges from the tip of the middle finger..." It also asks: "Why does the Hand-Shaoyin meridian have no Shu points?" Qibo answered: "Shaoyin is the Heart meridian. The Heart is the great master of the five Zang and six Fu organs, the residence of the Spirit. Its organ is firm and solid, so evil pathogens cannot invade it. If they invade, the heart is damaged; if the heart is damaged, the Spirit departs; if the Spirit departs, death occurs. Therefore, any evil affecting the heart actually affects the Pericardium. The Pericardium is the meridian of the Heart Master, hence it alone has no Shu points." Huangdi asked: "If Shaoyin alone has no Shu points, does it never get sick?" Qibo replied: "Its exterior meridian can be diseased while the interior organ remains healthy; therefore, one should exclusively select the meridian point at the end of the sharp bone behind the palm (Shenmen, HT7) for treatment. The rest regarding the entry, exit, flexion, extension, and speed of flow are all similar to the movement of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Master meridian. Thus, the methods in Benshu are based on assessing the deficiency or excess and speed of Qi to select points."