经论督脉尺寸中央三部俱浮直上直下督脉起于下极之 并于脊里上至风府入脑上巅循额
至鼻柱极于上齿缝中龈交穴张洁古曰督者都也为阳脉之都纲
任脉寸口脉紧细实长至关又曰寸口边丸丸任者妊也为阴脉之海起于中极之下循腹里由关
元上咽至承浆下龈交极目下承泣穴为阴脉之都纲也
冲脉尺寸中央俱牢直上直下起于气街挟脐左右上行至胸中而散为十二经之根本故称经脉
之海亦称血海
阳跷脉寸部左右弹起于足跟中上外踝循胁上肩夹口吻至目极于耳后风池穴
阴跷脉尺部左右弹起于足跟上内踝循阴上胸至咽极于目内 睛明穴
带脉关部左右弹起于季胁周遭一周如束带然
阴维脉尺外斜上至寸起于诸阴之交发于内踝上五寸循股入小腹循胁上胸至顶前而终
阳维脉尺内斜上至寸起于诸阳之会发于足外踝下一寸五分循膝上髀厌抵少腹循头入耳
至本神而止
汇辨云奇经者在十二经脉之外无脏腑与之配偶故曰奇夫脏腑之脉寸关尺有定位浮中沉有
定体弦钩毛石有定形此则另为一脉形状固异而隧道亦殊病症不同而延医自别
李时珍云八脉不拘制于十二经正经之脉隆盛则溢于奇经故秦越人比之天雨降下沟渠溢满
妄行流于河泽阳维主一身之表阴维主一身之里以乾坤言也阳跷主一身左右之阳阴跷主一身左
右之阴以东西言也督主身后之阳任冲主身前之阴以南北言也带脉横束诸脉以六合言也
《经论》记载：督脉在寸、关、尺三部均呈现浮象，脉势直上直下。督脉起始于会阴部（下极），并行的支脉沿着脊柱内部上行，到达风府穴进入脑部，向上至头顶，沿前额下行至鼻梁，终止于上齿缝中的龈交穴。张洁古说：“督”意为“都”，是阳脉的总纲。
任脉在寸口部位表现为紧、细、实、长，直达关部；又有人说寸口边缘搏动如丸状。“任”意为“妊”，是阴脉的海。任脉起始于中极穴之下，沿着腹部内侧上行，经过关元穴到达咽喉，至承浆穴，向下至龈交穴，极目时可见眼下部的承泣穴，它是阴脉的总纲。
冲脉在寸、关、尺三部均呈现牢象，脉势直上直下。冲脉起始于气街，挟持脐部左右两侧上行至胸部而散开，作为十二经脉的根本，所以被称为“经脉之海”，也被称为“血海”。
阳跷脉在寸部左右弹起，起始于足跟中，向上经过外踝，沿胁肋上行至肩部，夹持口吻至眼部，终止于耳后的风池穴。
阴跷脉在尺部左右弹起，起始于足跟上内踝处，沿阴分上行至胸部至咽喉，终止于眼内角的睛明穴。
带脉在关部左右弹起，起始于季胁，环绕身体一周，如同束带一样。
阴维脉从尺部外侧斜向上行至寸部，起始于诸阴经的交会处，发于内踝上五寸处，沿大腿进入小腹，沿胁肋上行至胸部，到达头顶前方而终结。
阳维脉从尺部内侧斜向上行至寸部，起始于诸阳经的交会处，发于足外踝下一寸五分处，沿膝盖上行至髀厌，抵少腹，沿头部进入耳中，到达本神穴而停止。
汇辨云：奇经八脉位于十二经脉之外，没有脏腑与之配偶，所以称为“奇”。脏腑的脉象在寸、关、尺有固定的位置，浮、中、沉有固定的体性，弦、钩、毛、石有固定的形态，而奇经八脉则是另外一类脉象，其形状固然不同，经络通道也有差异，病症不同，就医诊治自然有别。
李时珍说：奇经八脉不受十二正经的限制，当正经的脉气隆盛时，就会溢流入奇经。所以秦越人将其比喻为：天雨降下，沟渠满溢，妄行流注于河泽。阳维脉主管一身之表，阴维脉主管一身之里，这是以乾坤来比喻；阳跷脉主管一身左右之阳，阴跷脉主管一身左右之阴，这是以东西来比喻；督脉主管身后之阳，任脉和冲脉主管身前之阴，这是以南北来比喻；带脉横向束缚诸脉，这是以六合来比喻。
The *Jing Lun* (Classic Discussions) records: The Du Mai (Governor Vessel) presents a floating pulse at the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions, with a straight up-and-down trajectory. The Du Mai originates at the Huiyin point (lower extreme), runs parallel along the interior of the spine, ascends to the Fengfu point (GV16), enters the brain, reaches the vertex, follows the forehead down to the nasal bridge, and terminates at the Yinjiao point (GV28) in the upper gum line. Zhang Jiegu stated: "Du" means "capital," serving as the chief guideline for all Yang vessels.
The Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) at the Cun Kou position presents as tight, thin, solid, and long, reaching the Guan position; it is also described as having a bead-like pulsation at the edge of the Cun Kou. "Ren" means "to bear or conceive," serving as the sea of all Yin vessels. The Ren Mai originates below the Zhongji point (CV3), travels along the interior of the abdomen, passes through the Guanyuan point (CV4), reaches the throat, arrives at the Chengjiang point (CV24), descends to the Yinjiao point (GV28), and when looking upward, the Chengqi point (ST1) under the eye can be seen; it serves as the chief guideline for all Yin vessels.
The Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) presents a firm pulse at the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions, with a straight up-and-down trajectory. The Chong Mai originates at the Qichong point (ST30), flanks the umbilicus on both sides, ascends to the chest where it disperses. As the root of the twelve regular meridians, it is called the "Sea of Meridians" and also the "Sea of Blood."
The Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel Vessel) pulses at the Cun position on both sides, originating from the middle of the heel, ascending past the lateral malleolus, following the hypochondrium to the shoulder, flanking the corner of the mouth to the eye, and terminating at the Fengchi point (GB20) behind the ear.
The Yin Qiao Mai (Yin Heel Vessel) pulses at the Chi position on both sides, originating above the medial malleolus, ascending along the Yin aspect to the chest and throat, and terminating at the Jingming point (BL1) in the inner canthus of the eye.
The Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel) pulses at the Guan position on both sides, originating at the costal margin, encircling the body once like a belt.
The Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel) slants upward from the Chi position's exterior to the Cun position, originating at the intersection of all Yin vessels, emerging five cun above the medial malleolus, following the thigh into the lower abdomen, ascending along the hypochondrium to the chest, and ending at the anterior vertex.
The Yang Wei Mai (Yang Linking Vessel) slants upward from the Chi position's interior to the Cun position, originating at the convergence of all Yang vessels, emerging one cun and five fen below the lateral malleolus, ascending past the knee to the hip joint, reaching the lower abdomen, following the head into the ear, and stopping at the Benshen point (GB13).
*Huibian* states: The Eight Extraordinary Vessels lie outside the Twelve Regular Meridians and have no Zang-Fu organs paired with them, hence they are called "Extraordinary." The pulses of the Zang-Fu organs have fixed positions at Cun, Guan, and Chi; fixed qualities at Floating, Middle, and Deep levels; and fixed forms corresponding to String, Hook, Feather, and Stone. These extraordinary vessels constitute a separate category; their shapes are inherently different, their pathways distinct, and their symptoms vary, necessitating different medical approaches.
Li Shizhen stated: The Eight Extraordinary Vessels are not constrained by the Twelve Regular Meridians. When the qi of the regular meridians is abundant, it overflows into the extraordinary vessels. Thus, Qin Yueren compared this to rain falling from the sky: when ditches and channels overflow, the water flows wildly into rivers and marshes. The Yang Wei Mai governs the exterior of the whole body, and the Yin Wei Mai governs the interior, analogous to Heaven and Earth. The Yang Qiao Mai governs the Yang of the left and right sides, and the Yin Qiao Mai governs the Yin of the left and right sides, analogous to East and West. The Du Mai governs the Yang of the posterior, and the Ren and Chong Mails govern the Yin of the anterior, analogous to South and North. The Dai Mai horizontally binds all vessels, analogous to the Six Directions.