对掌后高骨，即是关脉。关前为寸，关后为尺。从高骨上至鱼际长一寸，因名曰寸。从高骨下至尺泽长
一尺，因名曰尺。界乎寸尺之间者，因名为关。寸为阳，尺为阴，关者阴阳之中气也。
左寸候心、膻，右寸候肺、胸，左关候肝、胆，右关候脾、胃，左尺候左肾与小肠、膀胱，右尺候右肾
与大肠。三部候三焦，两肾之中，即命门也。
反关脉者，脉不行于寸口，出列缺络入臂后，手阳明大肠之经也。以其不顺行于关上，故曰反关。有一
手反关者，有两手反关者，此得于有生之初，非病脉也，令病患侧立其手诊之，方可见也。
一呼一吸，合为一息。脉应四至或五至，为平和无病之脉。若三至为不及，六至为太过，即病脉也。
寸口动脉，五十一止，合于经常、不病之脉也。若四十动一止，一脏无气，主四岁死。三十动一止，
二脏无气，主三岁死。二十动一止，三脏无气，主二岁死。十动一止，四脏无气，主一岁死。不满十动一止
，五脏无气。若更乍数乍疏，止而不能即还，岁内必死也。
心脉浮大而散，肺脉浮涩而短，肝脉沉弦而长，肾脉沉滑而软，脾脉和平而缓。
春脉弦，夏脉洪，秋脉浮，冬脉沉。
浮脉（轻按乃得，重按不见）为阳，为表，主六气风邪外因之病。浮而有力表实也，浮而无力表虚也，
浮迟表冷也，浮缓风湿也，浮濡伤暑也，浮散虚极也，浮洪阳盛也，浮大阳实也，浮细气少也，浮涩血虚也
，浮数风热也，浮紧风寒也，浮弦风饮也，浮滑风痰也。
沉脉（轻按不见，重按乃得）为阴，为里，主七情气食，内因之病。沉大里实也，沉小里虚也，沉迟里冷
也，沉缓里湿也，
沉紧冷痛也，沉数热极也，沉涩痹气也，沉滑痰食也，沉伏闭郁也，沉弦饮疾也。
迟脉（一息三至或二至）为阴，为脏，主寒痛。有力为实寒，无力为虚寒。
数脉（一息五至或六至）为阳，为腑，主热病。有力为实热，无力为虚热，如数而兼细为伤阴。
滑脉（往来流利）主痰疾。见于左关为风痰，见于右关为痰食，见于寸为吐逆，见于尺为便脓血。
涩脉（往来艰涩）主湿痹。两尺见之，主伤精伤血。两寸见之，主汗多津伤。两关见之，主噎膈
反胃，液亡结肠。
缓脉（从容不迫）和缓主正复，怠缓主中湿。
紧脉（牵转甚急）主寒痛。
长脉（迢迢而来）主气治。（按∶正气之治，主于素强）
短脉（缩缩而去）主气伤。
虚脉（无力）主诸虚病。
实脉（有力）主诸实病。
大脉（粗大）主邪气进。
小脉（减小）主正气衰。
洪脉（阔大）主热实。
细脉（纤小）主寒虚。
弦脉（状类弓弦，细长而劲）主停饮。寸弦为阴乘阳，主头痛。尺弦为阴乘阴，主腹痛。
芤脉（状如葱管，浮大中空）主失血。
濡脉（浮而无力）主诸阳虚之病。
弱脉（沉而无力）主诸阴虚之病。
革脉（浮而极有力）主男子亡血伤精，妇人半产崩带。
牢脉（沉而极有力）主诸疝 瘕，心腹寒冷疼痛。
促脉（数而有止）主阳盛而郁。
结脉（缓而有止）主阴盛而凝。
散脉（浮大不收）主气泄而虚。
伏脉（沉闭不见）主气郁而闭。
动脉（动而不移）阴阳相搏，故主诸痛。阳动主发热惊狂，阴动主汗出血崩。
代脉（止而有定）主真气绝而不续，若不因跌打气闷，暴病气夺，痛疮气伤，女胎气阻，而无故见
之，则必死矣。
将手掌向后，高骨（桡骨茎突）处即是关脉。关脉前方为寸部，后方为尺部。从高骨向上至鱼际穴长一寸，因此命名为“寸”。从高骨向下至尺泽穴长一尺，因此命名为“尺”。位于寸部和尺部之间的部分，因此命名为“关”。寸部属阳，尺部属阴，关部则是阴阳之间的中气所在。
左手的寸部诊察心和膻中，右手的寸部诊察肺和胸廓，左手的关部诊察肝和胆，右手的关部诊察脾和胃，左手的尺部诊察左侧肾脏与小肠、膀胱，右手的尺部诊察右侧肾脏与大肠。三部脉共同诊察三焦，两肾之间即为命门。
男性左手脉象较大，女性右手脉象较大。男性寸脉充实，尺脉虚弱；女性寸脉虚弱，尺脉充实。
反关脉是指脉搏不在寸口常规位置运行，而是从列缺穴络脉进入手臂后方，行于手阳明大肠经上。因为它不顺着常规路径在关上运行，所以称为反关脉。有的人一只手是反关脉，有的人两只手都是反关脉，这是先天形成的，并非病理性脉象，让患者侧立并将手摆好才能诊察到。
一次呼气加一次吸气，合称为一息。脉搏在一息间跳动四至或五至，属于平和无病的脉象。如果一息只跳三至，属于不及，六至则属于太过，这些都是病脉。
寸口动脉跳动五十次而无间歇，符合正常健康人的脉象规律。如果跳动四十次出现一次间歇，说明有一脏之气衰竭，预示四年后死亡。跳动三十次出现一次间歇，说明有两脏之气衰竭，预示三年后死亡。跳动二十次出现一次间歇，说明有三脏之气衰竭，预示两年后死亡。跳动十次出现一次间歇，说明有四脏之气衰竭，预示一年后死亡。如果不满十次就出现一次间歇，说明五脏之气都已衰竭。如果脉象忽快忽慢，间歇后不能立即恢复，一年内必然死亡。
心脉表现为浮大而散，肺脉表现为浮涩而短，肝脉表现为沉弦而长，肾脉表现为沉滑而软，脾脉表现为和平而缓。
春季的脉象呈弦象，夏季的脉象呈洪象，秋季的脉象呈浮象，冬季的脉象呈沉象。
浮脉（轻按即可触及，重按时感觉不明显）属阳，主表证，主要反映六淫风邪等外因引起的疾病。浮而有力为表实证，浮而无力为表虚证，浮迟为表寒证，浮缓为风湿证，浮濡为伤暑证，浮散为极度虚弱证，浮洪为阳热亢盛证，浮大为阳实证，浮细为气少证，浮涩为血虚证，浮数为风热证，浮紧为风寒证，浮弦为风饮证，浮滑为风痰证。
沉脉（轻按时感觉不到，重按时才可触及）属阴，主里证，主要反映七情、饮食等内因引起的疾病。沉大为里实证，沉小为里虚证，沉迟为里寒证，沉缓为里湿证，沉紧为冷痛证，沉数为热极证，沉涩为痹阻气滞证，沉滑为痰食积滞证，沉伏为气机闭郁证，沉弦为饮疾证。
迟脉（一息跳动三至或二至）属阴，主脏病，主要反映寒证和痛证。有力为实寒证，无力为虚寒证。
数脉（一息跳动五至或六至）属阳，主腑病，主要反映热证。有力为实热证，无力为虚热证，如数脉兼见细脉则为伤阴证。
滑脉（往来流利顺畅）主要反映痰疾。出现在左关部为风痰，出现在右关部为痰食积滞，出现在寸部为呕吐逆乱，出现在尺部为便脓血。
涩脉（往来艰涩不畅）主要反映湿痹。出现在两尺部，主要反映精血损伤；出现在两寸部，主要反映汗多津液受损；出现在两关部，主要反映噎膈反胃，津液枯竭导致结肠燥结。
长脉（迢迢而来）主要反映气机调畅。（注：正气调畅，多见于体质素强者）
短脉（缩缩而去）主要反映气机受损。
虚脉（无力）主要反映各种虚证。
实脉（有力）主要反映各种实证。
弦脉（形状像弓弦，细长而劲直）主要反映停饮。寸部见弦脉为阴乘阳，主头痛；尺部见弦脉为阴乘阴，主腹痛。
牢脉（沉而极有力）主要反映各种疝气和瘕聚，以及心腹寒冷疼痛。
动脉（动而不移）是阴阳相搏的结果，故主各种痛证。阳动主发热惊狂，阴动主汗出血崩。
代脉（止而有定数）主要反映真气断绝而不续接。如果不是因为跌打撞击导致气闷，暴病夺气，痛疮伤气，女胎气阻等原因所致，而是无故出现代脉，则必然死亡。
With the palm facing backward, the high bone (radial styloid process) is the Guan position. The area anterior to Guan is the Cun position, and the area posterior to Guan is the Chi position. From the high bone upward to the Yuji point (LU10), the distance is one cun, hence named "Cun". From the high bone downward to the Chize point (LU5), the distance is one chi, hence named "Chi". The section situated between the Cun and Chi positions is therefore named "Guan". The Cun position belongs to Yang, the Chi position belongs to Yin, and the Guan position represents the intermediate Qi of Yin and Yang.
The left Cun position inspects the Heart and Danzhong (Pericardium region); the right Cun position inspects the Lungs and chest; the left Guan position inspects the Liver and Gallbladder; the right Guan position inspects the Spleen and Stomach; the left Chi position inspects the left Kidney, Small Intestine, and Bladder; the right Chi position inspects the right Kidney and Large Intestine. The three positions collectively inspect the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). Between the two Kidneys lies the Mingmen (Gate of Life).
In males, the pulse on the left side is larger; in females, the pulse on the right side is larger. In males, the Cun pulse is solid, and the Chi pulse is deficient. In females, the Cun pulse is deficient, and the Chi pulse is solid.
The Fan Guan Mai (Reverse Guan Pulse) refers to a pulse that does not run through the standard Cun Kou position but emerges from the Lieque collateral (LU7) into the posterior aspect of the arm, following the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Because it does not follow the normal course over the Guan position, it is called "Fan Guan" (Reverse Guan). Some individuals have a Fan Guan pulse on one hand, while others have it on both hands. This is congenital and is not a pathological pulse; it can only be palpated when the patient stands sideways and positions their hand appropriately.
One exhalation combined with one inhalation constitutes one Xi (respiration cycle). If the pulse beats four or five times per Xi, it is a peaceful, disease-free pulse. If it beats three times per Xi, it is insufficient; if it beats six times per Xi, it is excessive. Both are pathological pulses.
If the Cun Kou artery beats fifty times without interruption, it conforms to the regular, healthy pulse pattern. If there is an interruption after forty beats, it indicates that Qi of one Zang organ has failed, predicting death within four years. If there is an interruption after thirty beats, it indicates that Qi of two Zang organs has failed, predicting death within three years. If there is an interruption after twenty beats, it indicates that Qi of three Zang organs has failed, predicting death within two years. If there is an interruption after ten beats, it indicates that Qi of four Zang organs has failed, predicting death within one year. If an interruption occurs before ten beats, it indicates that the Qi of all five Zang organs has failed. If the pulse rate becomes irregular (alternating between fast and slow) and the interruption is not immediately followed by resumption, death will inevitably occur within the year.
The Heart pulse is floating, large, and scattered; the Lung pulse is floating, choppy, and short; the Liver pulse is deep, wiry, and long; the Kidney pulse is deep, slippery, and soft; the Spleen pulse is harmonious and moderate.
The Spring pulse is wiry; the Summer pulse is surging; the Autumn pulse is floating; the Winter pulse is deep.
Floating pulse (tangible with light pressure, indistinct with heavy pressure) belongs to Yang and exterior patterns, primarily indicating diseases caused by external pathogenic factors such as wind among the Six Evils. Floating with force indicates Exterior Excess; floating without force indicates Exterior Deficiency; floating and slow indicates Exterior Cold; floating and relaxed indicates Wind-Dampness; floating and soggy indicates Summerheat injury; floating and scattered indicates extreme deficiency; floating and surging indicates Hyperactive Yang; floating and large indicates Yang Excess; floating and thin indicates Qi deficiency; floating and choppy indicates Blood deficiency; floating and rapid indicates Wind-Heat; floating and tight indicates Wind-Cold; floating and wiry indicates Wind-Fluid retention; floating and slippery indicates Wind-Phlegm.
Deep pulse (imperceptible with light pressure, tangible only with heavy pressure) belongs to Yin and interior patterns, primarily indicating diseases caused by internal factors such as Seven Emotions and dietary irregularities. Deep and large indicates Interior Excess; deep and small indicates Interior Deficiency; deep and slow indicates Interior Cold; deep and relaxed indicates Interior Dampness; deep and tight indicates Cold pain; deep and rapid indicates Extreme Heat; deep and choppy indicates Bi syndrome with Qi stagnation; deep and slippery indicates Phlegm-Food retention; deep and hidden indicates Qi closure and depression; deep and wiry indicates Fluid retention diseases.
Slow pulse (two or three beats per Xi) belongs to Yin and Zang organs, primarily indicating Cold and Pain. With force indicates Excess Cold; without force indicates Deficiency Cold.
Rapid pulse (five or six beats per Xi) belongs to Yang and Fu organs, primarily indicating Heat diseases. With force indicates Excess Heat; without force indicates Deficiency Heat; if rapid and accompanied by thinness, it indicates Yin injury.
Slippery pulse (smooth and fluent in movement) primarily indicates Phlegm diseases. Seen at the left Guan position, it indicates Wind-Phlegm; seen at the right Guan position, it indicates Phlegm-Food retention; seen at the Cun position, it indicates vomiting and rebellion; seen at the Chi position, it indicates pus and blood in stool.
Choppy pulse (rough and difficult to move) primarily indicates Damp-Bi syndrome. Seen at both Chi positions, it indicates injury to Essence and Blood; seen at both Cun positions, it indicates excessive sweating and fluid damage; seen at both Guan positions, it indicates dysphagia and regurgitation, with fluid exhaustion leading to dry colon constipation.
Moderate pulse (leisurely and unhurried) a harmonious moderate quality indicates recovery of righteous Qi; a sluggish moderate quality indicates dampness invasion.
Tight pulse (tight and urgent like twisting) primarily indicates Cold and Pain.
Long pulse (stretching far) primarily indicates regulated Qi. (Note: Regulated righteous Qi is typically seen in those with strong constitutions.)
Short pulse (contracted and receding) primarily indicates damaged Qi.
Deficient pulse (without force) primarily indicates various deficiency conditions.
Excess pulse (with force) primarily indicates various excess conditions.
Large pulse (thick and big) primarily indicates the advance of pathogenic Qi.
Small pulse (decreased in size) primarily indicates decline of righteous Qi.
Surging pulse (broad and large) primarily indicates Heat Excess.
Thin pulse (slender and small) primarily indicates Cold Deficiency.
Wiry pulse (resembling a bowstring, slender, long, and tense) primarily indicates retained fluids. Wiry at the Cun position indicates Yin invading Yang, causing headache; wiry at the Chi position indicates Yin invading Yin, causing abdominal pain.
Sponge-like pulse (resembling a scallion tube, floating, large, and hollow in the center) primarily indicates blood loss.
Soggy pulse (floating and without force) primarily indicates various Yang deficiency diseases.
Weak pulse (deep and without force) primarily indicates various Yin deficiency diseases.
Leather pulse (floating and extremely forceful) primarily indicates blood loss and essence injury in men, and miscarriage, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea in women.
Firm pulse (deep and extremely forceful) primarily indicates various hernias and masses, and cold pain in the heart and abdomen.
Hasty pulse (rapid with interruptions) primarily indicates Yang excess with Qi depression.
Knotted pulse (slow with interruptions) primarily indicates Yin excess with Qi coagulation.
Scattered pulse (floating, large, and uncollected) primarily indicates Qi leakage and deficiency.
Hidden pulse (deep, closed, and imperceptible) primarily indicates Qi depression and closure.
Moving pulse (moving but not shifting) results from the struggle between Yin and Yang, thus primarily indicating various pains. Yang moving indicates fever, mania, and fright; Yin moving indicates sweating, hemorrhage, and uterine bleeding.
Intermittent pulse (interruptions with a fixed rhythm) primarily indicates the severance and non-renewal of True Qi. Unless caused by trauma causing Qi stagnation, acute illness depleting Qi, painful sores injuring Qi, or fetal obstruction of Qi in women, its appearance without cause indicates inevitable death.