正经经外是奇经，八脉分司各有名。任脉任前督于后，冲起会阴肾同行，阳跷跟外
膀胱别，阴起跟前随少阴，阳维维络诸阳脉，阴维维络在诸阴，带脉围腰如束带，不由常度号奇经。
【注】脉有奇常。十二经者，常脉也；奇经则不拘于常，故谓之奇也。盖人之气血，常
行于十二经脉。经脉满溢，流入他经，别道而行，故名奇经。奇经有八，曰∶任、督、冲、
带、阳跷、阴跷、阳维、阴维是也。任脉任于前，督脉督于后。冲脉为诸脉之海，带脉
犹身之束带。阳跷为足太阳之别，阴跷为足少阴之别。阳维则维络诸阳，阴维则维络诸
阴。阴阳相维，诸经乃调。故此八脉，譬犹图设沟渠，以备水潦，斯无滥溢之患。人有
奇经亦若是也。
《素问·骨空论》曰∶任脉者，起于中极之下。以上毛际，循腹里，上关元，至咽喉，
上颐、循面、入目。
\r任脉循行图\p06-d43a83.bmp\r
《灵枢·五音五味篇》曰∶冲脉任脉皆起于胞中，上循背里为经络之海。其浮而外者，
循腹上行，会于咽喉，别而络口唇。
任脉起于中极下，会阴腹里上关元，循内上行会冲脉，浮外循腹至喉咽，别络口唇
承浆已，过足阳明上颐间，循面入目至睛明，交督阴脉海名传。
【注】任脉者，起于中极之下。中极者，穴名也。在少腹聚毛处之上毛际也。中极之
下，谓曲骨之下会阴穴也。以上毛际，循腹里上关元者，谓从会阴循内上行，会于冲脉，
为经络之海也。其浮而外者，循腹上行，至于咽喉，别络口唇，至承浆而终。上颐循面
入目至睛明者，谓不直交督脉，由足阳明承泣穴上颐循面，入目内 之足太阳睛明穴，始
交于督脉，总为阴脉之海也。
正经与经外之别在于奇经，这八条经脉各自拥有特定的名称。任脉行于身体前部，督脉行于身体后部；冲脉起始于会阴穴，与肾经同行；阳跷脉从足跟外侧分出，属于膀胱经的别支；阴跷脉起始于身前，伴随足少阴肾经而行；阳维脉维系联络所有的阳经；阴维脉维系联络所有的阴经；带脉环绕腰部，如同束带一般，它们不遵循常规经络的路径，因此被称为奇经。
【注释】经脉有“奇”与“常”之分。十二正经是“常脉”；奇经则不受常规限制，所以称为“奇”。大概人体的气血，通常运行在十二经脉中。当经脉气血满溢时，就会流入其他经脉，沿着特殊的道路运行，因此命名为奇经。奇经共有八条，分别是：任、督、冲、带、阳跷、阴跷、阳维、阴维。任脉主持前面的经脉，督脉总督后面的经脉。冲脉是各条经脉的海汇，带脉就像身上的束带。阳跷脉是足太阳膀胱经的别支，阴跷脉是足少阴肾经的别支。阳维脉维系联络所有阳经，阴维脉维系联络所有阴经。阴阳相互维系，各条经脉才能调和。所以这八条经脉，好比地图中设置的沟渠，用来防备洪水泛滥，从而没有水患。人体有奇经也是同样的道理。
《素问·骨空论》说：任脉，起始于中极穴之下。向上经过阴毛边缘，沿腹部内侧上行，经过关元穴，到达咽喉，向上至下颌，沿面部进入目内眦。
[任脉循行图]
《灵枢·五音五味篇》说：冲脉和任脉都起始于胞宫（子宫），向上沿脊柱内部上行，成为经络之海。其中浮行于体表的分支，沿腹部上行，交会于咽喉，分支络于口唇。
任脉起始于中极穴下方，经过会阴穴沿腹里上行至关元穴，此处与冲脉相会，冲脉为经络之海。其浮行于体外的分支，沿腹部上行至咽喉，分支络于口唇。经过承浆穴后，越过足阳明胃经，上行至下颌间，沿面部进入眼睛到达睛明穴，在此与督脉相交，阴脉之海的名称由此流传。
【注释】任脉，起始于中极穴之下。中极是一个穴位名。位于小腹聚生阴毛处上方的毛际。中极的下方，指的是曲骨穴下方的会阴穴。所谓“以上毛际，循腹里上关元”，是指从会阴穴沿体内上行，与冲脉相会，因为冲脉是经络之海。那些浮行于体外的部分，沿腹部上行，到达咽喉，分支络于口唇，直到承浆穴结束。所谓“上颐循面入目至睛明”，是指不直接交于督脉，而是由足阳明胃经的承泣穴上行至下颌，沿面部进入眼内角，到达足太阳膀胱经的睛明穴，才与督脉相交，总称为阴脉之海。
Regular meridians and those outside the regular system constitute the Eight Extraordinary Vessels (Qi Jing Ba Mai), each with its own name. The Ren Meridian (Conception Vessel) governs the anterior aspect, while the Du Meridian (Governing Vessel) governs the posterior aspect. The Chong Meridian (Penetrating Vessel) originates at Huiyin (CV1) and travels alongside the Kidney Meridian. Yang Qiao (Yang Heel Vessel) branches from the lateral aspect of the heel and belongs to the Bladder Meridian. Yin Qiao (Yin Heel Vessel) originates at the anterior aspect and accompanies the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Yang Wei (Yang Linking Vessel) links all Yang meridians, and Yin Wei (Yin Linking Vessel) links all Yin meridians. The Dai Meridian (Girdle Vessel) encircles the waist like a sash; because they do not follow the standard pathways, they are called the Extraordinary Vessels.
[Note] Meridians are classified as "Extraordinary" (Qi) or "Constant" (Chang). The Twelve Regular Meridians are the Constant Meridians; the Extraordinary Vessels are not restricted by these constants, hence the name "Extraordinary." Generally, Qi and Blood in the human body normally circulate within the Twelve Regular Meridians. When the Qi and Blood in these meridians become full and overflow, they flow into other vessels and travel along separate pathways, thus named the Extraordinary Vessels. There are eight Extraordinary Vessels: Ren, Du, Chong, Dai, Yang Qiao, Yin Qiao, Yang Wei, and Yin Wei. The Ren Meridian governs the front, and the Du Meridian governs the back. The Chong Meridian is the Sea of all Meridians, and the Dai Meridian acts like a girdle on the body. Yang Qiao is a branch of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and Yin Qiao is a branch of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Yang Wei links all Yang meridians, and Yin Wei links all Yin meridians. When Yin and Yang link each other, all meridians are regulated. Therefore, these eight vessels are like ditches set on a map to prevent flooding, avoiding the disaster of overflow. The presence of Extraordinary Vessels in the human body is analogous to this.
The *Suwen · Gukong Lun* states: The Ren Meridian originates below Zhongji (CV3). It ascends above the pubic hairline, follows the interior of the abdomen, passes through Guanyuan (CV4), reaches the throat, goes up to the chin, follows the face, and enters the eyes.
[Ren Meridian Circulation Diagram]
The *Lingshu · Wuyin Wuwei Pian* states: Both the Chong Meridian and the Ren Meridian originate in the Baozhong (Uterus/Metropolis). They ascend along the interior of the spine and serve as the Sea of the Meridians. The branches that float outwardly ascend along the abdomen, intersect at the throat, and branch off to network around the lips.
The Ren Meridian originates below Zhongji, meets the Huiyin point, ascends along the abdominal interior to Guanyuan, where it intersects with the Chong Meridian, which is the Sea of the Meridians. Its floating external branch ascends along the abdomen to the throat, branching to network the lips. After passing Chengjiang (CV26), it crosses the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian to reach the area between the chin and jaw, follows the face into the eye to reach Jingming (BL1), and intersects with the Du Meridian; the title "Sea of Yin Meridians" is thereby transmitted.
[Note] The Ren Meridian originates below Zhongji. Zhongji is an acupoint name, located above the pubic hairline in the lower abdomen. Below Zhongji refers to the Huiyin (CV1) acupoint below Qugu (CV2). "Ascending above the pubic hairline, following the abdominal interior to Guanyuan" means ascending internally from Huiyin to meet the Chong Meridian, as the Chong Meridian is the Sea of the Meridians. The part that floats outwardly ascends along the abdomen to the throat, branching to network the lips, ending at Chengjiang (CV26). "Ascending to the chin, following the face into the eye to Jingming" means it does not directly intersect the Du Meridian; instead, from Chengqi (ST1) of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, it ascends to the chin, follows the face, enters the inner canthus of the eye to reach Jingming (BL1) of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, where it finally intersects with the Du Meridian, collectively known as the Sea of Yin Meridians.