奇经八脉，督、任、冲、带、阳跷、阴跷、阳维、阴维。督脉行于身后，起于下极之俞，并入脊里，
上至风府，入属于脑，诸阳之纲也。任脉行于身前，起于中极之下，循腹里，上关元，入目络舌，诸阴之
领也。冲脉起于气冲，并足少阴，挟脐上行，至胸中而散，诸经之海也。带脉起于季胁，回身一周，环腰
如带，诸经之约也。阳跷起于跟中，循外踝，上行入于风池，主左右之阳也。阴跷起于跟中，循内踝上行
，交贯冲脉，主左右之阴也。阳维起于诸阳会，维络于身，主一身之表也。阴维起于诸阴
交，维络于身，主一身之里也。阳跷、阳维者，足太阳之别。阴跷、阴维者，足少阴之别，凡此八脉者，
经脉之络也。经脉隆盛，入于络脉，络脉满溢，不拘于经，内溉脏腑，外濡腠理，别道自行，谓之奇经也。
水谷入胃，化生气血。气之 悍者，行于脉外，命之曰卫。血之精专者，行于脉中，命之曰营。
营卫营运，一日一夜，周身五十度。人一呼，脉再动，一吸脉再动，呼吸定息，脉五动，闰以太息。脉六动
一息，六动人之常也。一动脉行一寸，六动脉行六寸。灵枢脉度∶手之六阳，从手至头，长五尺，五
六三丈。手之六阴，从手至胸，长三尺五寸，三六一丈八尺、五六三尺、合二丈一尺。足之六阳，从足至头
，长八尺，六八四丈八尺。足之六阴，从足至胸，长六尺五寸，六六三丈六尺、五六三尺、合三丈九尺。
跷脉从足至目，长七尺五寸，二七一丈四尺、二五一尺、合一丈五尺。督脉、任脉长四尺五寸，二四八尺，
二五一尺，合九尺，凡督合一十六丈二尺。平人一日一夜，一万三千
五百息。一息脉行六寸，十息脉行六尺，一日百刻，一刻一百三十五息。人气半周于身，脉行八丈一尺，
两刻二百七十息。人气一周于身，脉行十六丈二尺，百刻一万三千五百息。人气五十周于身，脉行八百一
十丈。营气之行也，常于平旦寅时，从手太阴之寸口始，自手太阴，注手阳明，足阳明，注足太阴，
手少阴，注手太阳，足太阳，注足少阴，手厥阴，注手少阳，足少阳，注足厥阴，终于两跷、督任，是谓一
周也。二十八脉，周而
复始，阴阳相贯，如环无端，五十周毕，明日寅时又会于寸口，此营气之度也。
奇经八脉，包括督脉、任脉、冲脉、带脉、阳跷脉、阴跷脉、阳维脉、阴维脉。督脉行于身体后方，起于会阴部的俞穴，并入脊柱内部，上行至风府穴，进入脑部，是诸阳经的纲领。任脉行于身体前方，起于中极穴之下，沿腹部内侧上行，经过关元穴，进入眼部并联络舌部，是诸阴经的统领。冲脉起于气冲穴，与足少阴肾经并行，挟持脐部上行，到达胸部后散开，是诸经之海。带脉起于季胁部位，环绕身体一周，像腰带一样环腰，约束诸经。阳跷脉起于足跟中部，沿外踝上行，进入风池穴，主管身体左右两侧的阳分。阴跷脉起于足跟中部，沿内踝上行，交叉贯穿冲脉，主管身体左右两侧的阴分。阳维脉起于诸阳经交会之处，维系络属全身，主管一身之表。阴维脉起于诸阴经交会之处，维系络属全身，主管一身之里。阳跷脉和阳维脉，属于足太阳膀胱经的别支；阴跷脉和阴维脉，属于足少阴肾经的别支。大凡这八条经脉，都是经脉的络脉。当经脉气血隆盛时，流入络脉；络脉气血满溢时，不再受正经约束，向内灌溉脏腑，向外濡润腠理，另辟通道自行运行，这就称为奇经。
水谷进入胃中，化生为气和血。其中剽悍滑疾的气，行于脉管之外，称为卫气（Wei Qi, Defensive Qi）。其中精纯专一的血液，行于脉管之中，称为营气（Ying Qi, Nutritive Qi）。营气和卫气的运行，一昼夜在周身循环五十周次。人每呼气一次，脉搏跳动两次；每吸气一次，脉搏也跳动两次；在一呼一吸之间的停顿时刻（定息），脉搏再跳动一次，加上偶尔出现的长叹息（太息），合起来计算。通常以六次脉动为一息，这是人的常态。每一次脉动，气血运行一寸；六次脉动，气血运行六寸。《灵枢·脉度》记载：手部的六条阳经，从手走到头，长度五尺，六条合计三丈。手部的六条阴经，从手走到胸，长度三尺五寸，六条合计二丈一尺。足部的六条阳经，从足走到头，长度八尺，六条合计四丈八尺。足部的六条阴经，从足走到胸，长度六尺五寸，六条合计三丈九尺。跷脉从足走到眼目，长度七尺五寸，两条合计一丈五尺。督脉和任脉各长四尺五寸，两条合计九尺。以上所有经脉总长度为十六丈二尺。正常人在一昼夜之间，呼吸一万三千五百次。每次呼吸，脉气运行六寸；十次呼吸，脉气运行六尺。一昼夜分为一百刻，每一刻有一百三十五次呼吸。人气在半周于身时，脉气运行八丈一尺，对应两刻，二百七十次呼吸。人气完整一周于身时，脉气运行十六丈二尺，对应一百刻，一万三千五百次呼吸。人气在周身循环五十周时，脉气总共运行八百一十丈。营气的运行，通常在清晨寅时，从手太阴肺经的寸口开始，依次注入手阳明大肠经、足阳明胃经、足太阴脾经、手少阴心经、手太阳小肠经、足太阳膀胱经、足少阴肾经、手厥阴心包经、手少阳三焦经、足少阳胆经、足厥阴肝经，最后终于阴阳跷脉及督脉、任脉，这称为一周。二十八条经脉，循环往复，阴阳相互贯通，如同圆环没有端点，五十周结束后，次日寅时又会聚于寸口，这就是营气运行的规律。
The Eight Extraordinary Vessels (Qi Jing Ba Mai) include the Du Meridian (Governor Vessel), Ren Meridian (Conception Vessel), Chong Meridian (Penetrating Vessel), Dai Meridian (Girdle Vessel), Yang Qiao Meridian (Yang Heel Vessel), Yin Qiao Meridian (Yin Heel Vessel), Yang Wei Meridian (Yang Linking Vessel), and Yin Wei Meridian (Yin Linking Vessel). The Du Meridian runs along the posterior aspect of the body, originating from the Shu point at the perineum (Xia Ji Zhi Shu), entering the spinal canal, ascending to the Fengfu point (GV16), and entering the brain; it serves as the commander of all Yang meridians. The Ren Meridian runs along the anterior aspect of the body, originating below the Zhongji point (CV3), following the interior of the abdomen, ascending through the Guanyuan point (CV4), entering the eyes, and connecting with the tongue; it serves as the leader of all Yin meridians. The Chong Meridian originates from the Qichong point (ST30), runs parallel to the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, flanks the umbilicus ascending to the chest where it disperses; it is the sea of all meridians. The Dai Meridian originates from the hypochondriac region, encircles the body once like a belt around the waist, and acts as the constraint for all meridians. The Yang Qiao Meridian originates in the middle of the heel, follows the lateral malleolus, ascends into the Fengchi point (GB20), and governs the Yang aspect of the left and right sides. The Yin Qiao Meridian originates in the middle of the heel, follows the medial malleolus ascending, intersects and penetrates the Chong Meridian, and governs the Yin aspect of the left and right sides. The Yang Wei Meridian originates from the convergence of all Yang meridians, links and connects the body, and governs the exterior of the whole body. The Yin Wei Meridian originates from the intersection of all Yin meridians, links and connects the body, and governs the interior of the whole body. The Yang Qiao and Yang Wei meridians are branch vessels of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. The Yin Qiao and Yin Wei meridians are branch vessels of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Generally speaking, these eight vessels are the collateral vessels (Luo Mai) of the regular meridians. When the qi and blood in the regular meridians become abundant, they enter the collateral vessels; when the collateral vessels are full and overflowing, they are no longer restricted by the regular meridians, irrigating the zang-fu organs internally and moistening the couli (skin and hair follicles) externally, running independently through alternative pathways; this is called the Extraordinary Vessels.
Food and drink enter the stomach and transform into qi and blood. The fierce and rapid qi that flows outside the vessels is called Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). The pure and concentrated blood that flows inside the vessels is called Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi). The circulation of Ying and Wei qi completes fifty cycles throughout the body in one day and night. With each exhalation, the pulse beats twice; with each inhalation, the pulse beats twice. At the pause between inhalation and exhalation (Ding Xi), the pulse beats once more, supplemented occasionally by a deep sigh (Tai Xi). Typically, six pulse beats constitute one breath cycle, which is the normal state for humans. Each pulse beat moves the qi and blood one cun; six beats move it six cun. According to the *Ling Shu: Mai Du* chapter: The six Yang meridities of the hand extend from the hand to the head, measuring five chi each, totaling three zhang (ten chi) for all six. The six Yin meridians of the hand extend from the hand to the chest, measuring three chi and five cun each, totaling two zhang and one chi for all six. The six Yang meridians of the foot extend from the foot to the head, measuring eight chi each, totaling four zhang and eight chi for all six. The six Yin meridians of the foot extend from the foot to the chest, measuring six chi and five cun each, totaling three zhang and nine chi for all six. The Qiao meridians extend from the foot to the eyes, measuring seven chi and five cun each, totaling one zhang and five chi for both. The Du and Ren meridians each measure four chi and five cun, totaling nine chi for both. In total, the length of all these meridians combined is sixteen zhang and two chi. A healthy person breathes thirteen thousand five hundred times in one day and night. With each breath, the pulse qi moves six cun; with ten breaths, it moves six chi. One day and night is divided into one hundred ke (water clock divisions); each ke consists of 135 breaths. When the vital qi has circulated half-way around the body, the pulse qi has moved eight zhang and one chi, corresponding to two ke and 270 breaths. When the vital qi completes one full cycle around the body, the pulse qi moves sixteen zhang and two chi, corresponding to one hundred ke and 13,500 breaths. After circulating fifty times around the body, the pulse qi has moved a total of eight hundred ten zhang. The movement of Ying Qi typically begins at the Cun Kou (Radial Pulse) of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian at dawn during the Yin hour. It then sequentially enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, finally concluding at the Yin and Yang Qiao meridians, as well as the Du and Ren meridians. This constitutes one cycle. The twenty-eight meridians circulate continuously, with Yin and Yang interconnecting like a ring without beginning or end. After fifty cycles, at the Yin hour of the next day, they converge again at the Cun Kou. This is the rhythm of Ying Qi circulation.