寸部法天。主上焦。诊自头以下至心病也。关部法人。主中焦。诊自心以下至脐病也。尺部法
地。主下焦。诊自脐以下至足病也。
三部者。上中下。即寸关尺也。每部三候。各自分天人地。
上部天以候头角。上部人以候耳目。上部地以候口齿。中部天以候肺。中部人以候心。中部
地以候胸中。下部天以候肝。下部人以候脾胃。下部地以候肾（九候虽有数说。不如此说易晓。今
亦难用。姑存之。）
王子亨云。一位有三候。浮取之属阳。沉取之属阴。中得之为胃气。故无胃气则死。
左寸外以候心。内以候膻中。（其穴在两乳间）左关外以候肝。内以候膈中。左尺外以候
肾。内以候腹中（腹属下焦。右手尺中亦可候也。）
右寸外以候肺。内以候胸中。（三焦之所主也）右关外以候脾。内以候胃脘。右尺外以候
心主。内以候腰。
春弦（谓端直如弓弦也）夏洪（一云钩。谓脉如钩芒。来疾去迟。）秋浮。（一云毛。谓如
鸿毛之轻举也。）冬沉。（一云营。一云石。谓其沉也。）
春肝脉微弦而长。（一云弦细而长。一云弦长而软。一云濡弱而长。）
夏心脉洪大而散。（一云浮大而散。一云浮洪而 。一云洪而微实。一云浮大而洪长。一云
洪大而长。）吕广云。非是。乃小肠脉也。
四季脾脉娜娜而缓。（一云软大而缓。一云沉而濡长。三月六月九月十二月各旺一十八日。）
秋肺脉浮涩而短。（一云微涩而短。一云轻虚以浮。）
冬肾脉沉滞而滑。（一云沉濡而短。一云沉而紧实。一云沉细。一云沉实而滑。一云沉濡而
滑。）
寸部对应天道。主管上焦。诊察范围从头部以下直至心脏的疾病。关部对应人道。主管中焦。诊察范围从心脏以下直至肚脐的疾病。尺部对应地道。主管下焦。诊察范围从肚脐以下直至足部的疾病。
三部指的是上、中、下三部，也就是寸、关、尺三部。每一部又分为三候（浮、中、沉），各自分别对应天、人、地。上部之天用来诊察头角部位，上部之人用来诊察耳目部位，上部之地用来诊察口齿部位；中部之天用来诊察肺脏，中部之人用来诊察心脏，中部之地用来诊察胸中部位；下部之天用来诊察肝脏，下部之人用来诊察脾和胃，下部之地用来诊察肾脏。（关于九候的说法虽有多种，但不如这种说法容易理解，如今也难以应用，暂且保留此说。）
王子亨说：一个脉位有三候，轻取（浮取）属于阳，重按（沉取）属于阴，不轻不重适中取得的是胃气。所以如果没有胃气就会死亡。
左手寸部外侧用来诊察心脏，内侧用来诊察膻中。（该穴位在两乳之间）左手关部外侧用来诊察肝脏，内侧用来诊察膈中。左手尺部外侧用来诊察肾脏，内侧用来诊察腹中（腹部属下焦，右手尺部也可以诊察）。
右手寸部外侧用来诊察肺脏，内侧用来诊察胸中。（这是三焦所主管的部位）右手关部外侧用来诊察脾脏，内侧用来诊察胃脘。右手尺部外侧用来诊察心主（心包络），内侧用来诊察腰部。
春季的脉象呈弦脉（意思是端直如同弓弦一样）。夏季的脉象呈洪脉（另一种说法叫钩脉，意思是脉象如钩芒，来势急而去势缓）。秋季的脉象呈浮脉（另一种说法叫毛脉，意思是像鸿毛轻轻举起一样）。冬季的脉象呈沉脉（另一种说法叫营脉或石脉，意思是其脉沉潜）。
春季肝脏的脉象微弦而长（另一种说法是弦细而长，另一种说法是弦长而软，另一种说法是濡弱而长）。
夏季心脏的脉象洪大而散（另一种说法是浮大而散，另一种说法是浮洪而...，另一种说法是洪而微实，另一种说法是浮大而洪长，另一种说法是洪大而长）。吕广说：上述说法不对，那是小肠的脉象。
四季脾脏的脉象婀娜而缓（另一种说法是软大而缓，另一种说法是沉而濡长，分别在三月、六月、九月、十二月各旺盛十八日）。
秋季肺脏的脉象浮涩而短（另一种说法是微涩而短，另一种说法是轻虚以浮）。
冬季肾脏的脉象沉滞而滑（另一种说法是沉濡而短，另一种说法是沉而紧实，另一种说法是沉细，另一种说法是沉实而滑，另一种说法是沉濡而滑）。
The Cun position corresponds to Heaven. It governs the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner). Its diagnostic scope covers diseases from below the head down to the Heart. The Guan position corresponds to Humanity. It governs the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner). Its diagnostic scope covers diseases from below the Heart down to the umbilicus. The Chi position corresponds to Earth. It governs the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner). Its diagnostic scope covers diseases from below the umbilicus down to the feet.
The Three Positions refer to the Upper, Middle, and Lower sections, which are the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions respectively. Each position has three grades of pressure (Floating, Middle, Deep), each corresponding to Heaven, Humanity, and Earth. The Heaven grade of the Upper section is used to inspect the head and temples; the Humanity grade of the Upper section is used to inspect the ears and eyes; the Earth grade of the Upper section is used to inspect the mouth and teeth. The Heaven grade of the Middle section is used to inspect the Lungs; the Humanity grade of the Middle section is used to inspect the Heart; the Earth grade of the Middle section is used to inspect the chest interior. The Heaven grade of the Lower section is used to inspect the Liver; the Humanity grade of the Lower section is used to inspect the Spleen and Stomach; the Earth grade of the Lower section is used to inspect the Kidneys. (Although there are several theories regarding the Nine Grades, this explanation is easier to understand, though it is difficult to apply in current practice; therefore, it is retained here for reference.)
Wang Ziheng stated: A single pulse position has three grades. Floating pressure belongs to Yang; deep pressure belongs to Yin; obtaining the pulse with moderate pressure indicates Stomach Qi. Therefore, if Stomach Qi is absent, death ensues.
The outer aspect of the Left Cun position is used to inspect the Heart; the inner aspect is used to inspect the Danzhong (Chest Center) [located between the two nipples]. The outer aspect of the Left Guan position is used to inspect the Liver; the inner aspect is used to inspect the Diaphragm center. The outer aspect of the Left Chi position is used to inspect the Kidneys; the inner aspect is used to inspect the Abdominal center (The abdomen belongs to the Lower Jiao, so the Right Chi position can also be used for inspection).
The outer aspect of the Right Cun position is used to inspect the Lungs; the inner aspect is used to inspect the Chest interior (This is the domain governed by the Sanjiao/Triple Burner). The outer aspect of the Right Guan position is used to inspect the Spleen; the inner aspect is used to inspect the Epigastrium. The outer aspect of the Right Chi position is used to inspect the Xin Zhu (Heart Master/Pericardium); the inner aspect is used to inspect the Waist.
Spring pulses are Xian (Wiry) [meaning straight and taut like a bowstring]. Summer pulses are Hong (Surging) [another term is Gou (Hook), meaning the pulse comes swiftly and departs slowly]. Autumn pulses are Fu (Floating) [another term is Mao (Hair), meaning light as a goose feather rising]. Winter pulses are Chen (Deep) [another term is Ying or Shi (Stone), meaning sunken].
In Spring, the Liver pulse is slightly Xian (Wiry) and long [other descriptions include wiry, fine, and long; wiry, long, and soft; or soft, weak, and long].
In Summer, the Heart pulse is Hong (Surging), large, and dispersed [other descriptions include floating, large, and dispersed; floating, surging, and ...; surging, slightly solid; floating, large, surging, and long; or surging, large, and long]. Lu Guang stated: These descriptions are incorrect; they describe the Small Intestine pulse.
During the four seasons, the Spleen pulse is Na Na (Graceful/Elegant) and Huan (Slow) [other descriptions include soft, large, and slow; or deep, soft, and long. It prospers for eighteen days each in the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth lunar months].
In Autumn, the Lung pulse is Fu (Floating), Se (Choppy), and short [other descriptions include slightly choppy and short; or light, void, and floating].
In Winter, the Kidney pulse is Chen (Deep), Zhi (Sluggish), and Hua (Slippery) [other descriptions include deep, soft, and short; deep, tight, and solid; deep and fine; deep, solid, and slippery; or deep, soft, and slippery].