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The Luo-collaterals (Luo Mai, collateral vessels) are the lateral branches of the primary meridians, diverging to connect with the Twelve Primary Meridians. The Qi of the primary meridian intersects with other meridians through the Luo-collaterals, and the intersection of other meridians is also connected via these collaterals. The branch of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian ascends from the Keyu region (Quepen), flanking the mouth and nose, intersecting with the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian diverges at the dorsum of the foot, emerging at the tip of the great toe, and intersects with the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian diverges from the stomach, pierces the diaphragm, and enters the heart, intersecting with the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian directly intersects with the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian from its own Shaochong point (Shaochong, HT9), without requiring intermediate support, because the Heart acts as the sovereign ruler issuing commands. The branch of the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian diverges from the cheek, ascends to the inner canthus of the eye, and intersects with the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian diverges from the medial aspect of the upper arm, descends bilaterally to converge in the popliteal fossa, continues down to the lateral end of the little toe, and intersects with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian emerges from the lung, enters the chest, and intersects with the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. The branch of the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian circulates from the palm along the little finger and the index finger, emerging at their tips, and intersects with the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian enters from the dorsum of the foot into the area of hair growth near the nail of the great toe, emerges, and intersects with the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. The branch of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian diverges from the liver, penetrates the diaphragm, ascends to the lung, and intersects with the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian.

Therefore, the Jing-Meridians (Jing Mai, primary meridians) transport Blood and Qi, communicate Yin and Yang, and nourish the body. This passage connects to the preceding text to introduce the following meaning: The continuous circulation of the Jing-Meridians serves to circulate Blood and Qi, flow Yin and Yang, and nourish the body. The term "Luo-collaterals" is not explicitly mentioned here because citing the "Jing-Meridians" encompasses the "Luo-collaterals." The circulation begins at the Middle Jiao (Zhong Jiao, middle burner), entering the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian; the Hand-Taiyin enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; the Hand-Yangming enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian; the Foot-Taiyin enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian; the Hand-Taiyang enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian; the Foot-Shaoyin enters the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian; the Hand-Shaoyang enters the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian; the Foot-Jueyin returns to enter the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Starting from the Middle Jiao entering the Hand-Taiyin and ending with the entry into the Foot-Jueyin constitutes one complete circuit of the meridians around the body.

The Qi typically takes dawn (Pingdan) as its rhythmic marker. Following the measurement of one hundred water-clock strokes (ke), it flows day and night without cessation, matching the celestial degrees, completing cycles and starting anew. Here, "Qi" refers to Ying-Qi (Nutritive Qi), summarizing the previous discussion on meridian circulation. It originates from the Middle Jiao, and its rhythm is marked by dawn; specifically, Ying-Qi uses the Yin hour of dawn as its marker, beginning from the Middle Jiao to enter the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, circulating sequentially. Blood is not mentioned separately because where Qi moves, Blood follows. "One hundred water-clock strokes flowing day and night, matching the heavens" means that within the hundred strokes of the water clock covering day and night, the circulation of human meridians is endless, operating in accordance with the heavens. The heavens complete one celestial circuit (365 and 1/4 degrees) to finish one day and night; the human Ying-Wei (Defensive Qi) completes fifty circuits around the body. The Qi travels for 13,500 breaths, and the pulse travels 810 zhang, concluding one day and night, arriving precisely at the Yin hour of the next day, reuniting at the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. This matches the heavenly degrees, cycling endlessly. Some ask: if the length of daylight measured by the water clock varies, how does the Ying-Qi expand or contract? The answer is that although the water clock measures vary in length, the fifty circuits around the body reach their completion uniformly, without expanding or contracting due to the variations in the water clock.