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Huangdi asked, saying: The "Mai Du" (Measure of Vessels) chapter discusses the length and shortness of the meridians; on what basis are they established? Bogao replied: First measure the size, breadth, and length of the bone joints, and then the length of the vessels will be determined.

Huangdi said: For a person seven chi five cun in height, what are the respective sizes and lengths of their bone joints?

Bogao replied: The circumference of the skull is two chi six cun, the chest circumference is four chi five cun, and the waist circumference is four chi two cun. The hair-covered cranium extends from the nape to the hairline for one chi two cun, and from the hairline down to the chin is one chi; this is the standard measurement for an average adult. From the laryngeal prominence below to the Quepen (Supraclavicular Fossa) is four cun; if it exceeds this, the Lung is large; if less, the Lung is small. From Quepen below to the Jiuwei (Xiphoid Process) is nine cun; if it exceeds this, the Stomach is large; if less, the Stomach is small. From Jiuwei below to the Tianshu point (two cun lateral to the umbilicus) is eight cun; if it exceeds this, the Ileum is wide and long; if less, it is narrow and short. From Tianshu below to the Henggu (Pubic Symphysis) is six chi half cun; if it exceeds this, the Ileum is wide and long; if less, it is narrow and short. The Henggu is six chi half cun long. From the upper border of the Henggu to the upper border of the medial epicondyle of the tibia is one chi eight cun; from the upper border of the medial epicondyle to its lower border is three chi half cun; from the lower border of the medial epicondyle to the medial malleolus is one chi three cun; from the medial malleolus to the ground is three cun; from below the popliteal fossa to the dorsum of the foot joint is one chi six cun; from the dorsum of the foot joint to the ground is three cun. Therefore, if the bone circumference is too large, it is excessive; if too small, it is insufficient.

From the ear angle near Tinggong to the Zhu Gu (C7 Spinous Process) is one chi; the part running through the axilla that is not visible is four cun; from the axilla to the Ji Xie (end of the 12th rib) is one chi two cun; from the Ji Xie to the Bi Shu (Greater Trochanter) is six cun; from the Bi Shu to the middle of the knee is one chi nine cun; from below the knee to the lateral malleolus is one chi six cun; from the lateral malleolus to the Jing Gu (Base of the 5th Metatarsal) is three cun; from the Jing Gu to the ground is one cun.

The width behind the ear at the Wan Gu (Mastoid Process) is nine cun; the width in front of the ear at the Er Men is one chi two cun. The width between the two Zhen bones (Cheekbones) is nine chi half cun; the width between the two nipples is nine chi half cun; the width between the two thighs is six chi half cun. The foot is one chi two cun long and four chi half cun wide. From the shoulder to the elbow is one chi seven cun; from the elbow to the wrist is one chi two chi half cun; from the wrist to the base joint of the middle finger (Metacarpophalangeal Joint) is four cun; from this joint to the tip is four chi half cun.

From the back of the neck hairline to the spinal bone is three chi half cun; from the spinal bone to the coccyx, consisting of twenty-one segments, is three chi. Each segment is one chi plus seven-fourteenths, with the fractional part below; thus, the upper seven segments down to the Lv Gu (Muscles alongside the spine) are nine chi plus seven-fourteenths. These are the measurements of the bones of ordinary people, which serve as the basis for establishing the lengths of the meridians. Therefore, observing the meridians in the body, those that appear floating and firm, bright and large, contain much blood; those that are thin and deep contain much Qi; these are the lengths of the meridians.

Huangdi said: I wish to hear about the transmission of grain by the Six Fu Organs; what are the sizes and lengths of the stomach and intestines, and how much grain can they hold?

Bogao replied: The dimensions of the entry and exit of grain, including depth, distance, and length, are as follows: From the lips to the teeth is nine fen, and two chi half cun wide. From the teeth to the Epiglottis, the depth is three chi half cun, with a capacity of five he. The tongue weighs ten liang, is seven cun long, and two chi half cun wide. The pharynx gate weighs ten liang, is two chi half cun wide, and one chi six cun long to the Stomach. The Stomach is tortuous; when straightened, it is two chi six cun long, one chi five cun wide, five cun in diameter, and has a capacity of three dou five sheng. The Small Intestine attaches posteriorly to the spine, looping left and overlapping; the part entering the Ileum attaches externally above the umbilicus, looping back sixteen times, one chi half cun wide, with a diameter of slightly less than one-third of a fen (approx. 2.67 fen), and three zhang two chi long. The Ileum loops around the left side of the umbilicus, overlapping downward, looping back sixteen times, four cun wide, with a diameter of slightly less than one-third of a cun (approx. 1.33 cun), and two zhang one chi long. The Large Intestine (Guang Chang) attaches to the spine to receive the Ileum, looping left and overlapping, slanting up and down, eight cun wide, with a diameter of slightly more than two-thirds of a cun (approx. 2.67 cun), and two chi eight cun long. The total length of the gastrointestinal tract from entry to exit is six zhang four chi four cun, with thirty-two curves.

Huangdi said: Why does a person die after seven days without food?

Bogao replied: The Stomach is one chi five cun wide, five cun in diameter, and two chi six cun long, curving to hold three dou five sheng of water and grain. Normally, it retains two dou of grain and one dou five sheng of water, which fills it. The Upper Jiao disperses Qi, releasing essence and subtle nutrients; its Qi is vigorous, slippery, and rapid. The Lower Jiao irrigates downward, draining into the various Small Intestines. The Small Intestine is one chi half cun wide, with a diameter of slightly less than one-third of a fen, and three zhang two chi long; it receives two dou four sheng of grain and six sheng three he plus half-he of water. The Ileum is four cun wide, with a diameter of slightly less than one-third of a cun, and two zhang one chi long; it receives one dou of grain and seven sheng half of water. The Large Intestine is eight cun wide, with a diameter of slightly more than two-thirds of a cun, and two chi eight cun long; it receives nine sheng three he plus one-eighth-he of grain. The total length of the stomach and intestines is five zhang eight chi four cun, capable of holding nine dou two sheng plus half-he of water and grain; this is the quantity of water and grain the gastrointestinal tract can hold.

However, a healthy person is different: when the Stomach is full, the Intestines are empty; when the Intestines are full, the Stomach is empty. They alternate in filling and emptying, allowing Qi to circulate up and down, keeping the Five Zang Organs stable, the Blood Vessels harmonious and smooth, and allowing Spirit to reside. Thus, Spirit is the essence-qi of water and grain. Therefore, the stomach and intestines normally retain two dou four sheng of grain and one dou five sheng of water. A person defecates twice a day, expelling two chi half sheng each time, totaling five sheng per day. Over seven days, this amounts to three dou five sheng, exhausting the retained water and grain. Thus, a healthy person who does not drink or eat for seven days dies because the essence-qi and fluids of water and grain are exhausted; hence, death occurs after seven days.