体象 短脉涩小，首尾俱俯；中间突起，不能满部。
短之为象，两头沉下，而中间独浮也。
主病 短主不及，为气虚证。左寸短者，心神不定。短在左关，肝气有伤。左尺得短，少腹必疼。
右寸短者，肺虚头痛。短在右关，膈间为殃。右尺得短，真火不隆。
《素问·脉要精微论》曰∶“短则气病。”盖以气属阳，主乎充沛，若短脉独见，气衰之确兆也。然肺为主
气之藏，偏与短脉相应，则又何以说也。《素问·玉机真藏论》谓肺之平脉，厌厌聂聂，如落榆荚。则短
中自有和缓之象，气仍治也。若短而沉且涩，而谓气不病可乎？
按一息不运则机缄穷，一毫不续则穹壤判。伪诀以短脉为中间有，两头无，为不及本位。据其说则断
绝不通矣。夫脉以贯通为义，若使上不贯通，则为阳绝；下不贯通，则为阴绝；俱为必死之脉。岂有一见
短脉，遂致危亡之理乎。戴同父亦悟及于此，而云“短脉只当见于尺寸，若关中见短，是上不通寸，下
不通尺，为阴阳绝脉而必死。”同父之说，极为有见。然尺与寸可短，依然落于阴绝阳绝矣。殊不知短
脉非两头断绝也，特两头俯而沉下，中间突而浮起，仍目贯通者也。叔和云∶“应指而回，不能满部。”亦
非短脉之合论也。时珍曰∶“长脉属肝宜于春，短脉属肺宜于秋。但诊肺肝，则长短自见。”故知非其时、
非其部，即为病脉也。凡得短脉，必主气血虚损，伪诀指为气壅者何也？洁古至欲以巴豆神药治之，良不可解。
体象 短脉的形态涩滞而细小，首尾两端都低伏；中间部分突起，不能充满指下部位。
短脉的形象，是两头沉下，而中间单独浮起。
主病 短脉主气不足，属于气虚证。左寸部出现短脉，心神不安定。短脉出现在左关部，肝气受到损伤。左尺部见到短脉，小腹部必定疼痛。
右寸部出现短脉，肺气虚弱导致头痛。短脉出现在右关部，胸膈间会有祸殃。右尺部见到短脉，命门真火不旺盛。
《素问·脉要精微论》说：“短脉代表气机有病。”大概因为气属阳，主司充沛，如果单独见到短脉，是气衰弱的明确征兆。然而肺是主管气的脏腑，偏偏与短脉相应，这又该如何解释呢？《素问·玉机真藏论》说肺的正常脉象，柔和轻缓，像落下的榆荚。那么短脉中自然包含和缓之象，气仍然处于正常状态。如果短脉兼见沉涩，能说气没有病吗？
按语：一息之气不运行则生机穷尽，一丝一毫不连续则天地判分。伪诀认为短脉是中间有、两头无，是不及本位。依据这种说法，脉气就断绝不通了。脉以贯通为义理，如果上面不贯通，就是阳绝；下面不贯通，就是阴绝；都是必死的脉象。怎么一见短脉，就会导致危亡的道理呢？戴同父也领悟到这一点，他说“短脉只应当见于尺寸部，如果在关部见到短脉，这是上不通寸、下不通尺，属于阴阳绝脉而必死。”同父的说法，非常有见解。然而尺部和寸部可以短，依然落入阴绝阳绝的范畴了。殊不知短脉并非两头断绝，只是两头俯伏沉下，中间突起浮起，仍然是贯通的。叔和说：“应指而回，不能满部。”也不是对短脉的正确论述。时珍说：“长脉属肝适宜于春季，短脉属肺适宜于秋季。只要诊察肺和肝，长短脉自然显现。”所以知道非其时、非其部，就是病脉。凡是得到短脉，一定主气血虚损，伪诀却指为气壅滞，为什么呢？洁古甚至想用巴豆神药来治疗，实在令人难以理解。
Body and Image The body image of the Short Pulse (Duan Mai) is choppy and small, with both the beginning and end lying low; the middle part protrudes, failing to fill the pulse position.
The image of the Short Pulse is that both ends sink down, while only the middle part floats up.
Predominant Diseases The Short Pulse indicates insufficiency, belonging to Qi Deficiency Syndrome (Qi Xu Zheng). If the Short Pulse appears at the Left Cun (Cun Position on the Left Wrist), the Heart Spirit (Shen) is unsettled. If the Short Pulse is at the Left Guan (Guan Position on the Left Wrist), Liver Qi (Gan Qi) is injured. If the Short Pulse is found at the Left Chi (Chi Position on the Left Wrist), there must be pain in the lower abdomen.
If the Short Pulse appears at the Right Cun, Lung Qi deficiency causes headache. If the Short Pulse is at the Right Guan, disaster strikes between the diaphragm. If the Short Pulse is found at the Right Chi, the True Fire (Zhen Huo) of the Mingmen is not flourishing.
The *Suwen: Pulse Essentials and Subtleties* states: "A Short Pulse signifies disease of Qi." This is because Qi belongs to Yang and governs abundance; if the Short Pulse appears alone, it is a clear sign of Qi decline. However, the Lung is the zang organ that governs Qi, yet it corresponds specifically to the Short Pulse; how should this be explained? The *Suwen: Jade Machine and True Organ Manifestations* states that the normal pulse of the Lung is gentle and light, like falling elm seeds. Thus, within the Short Pulse, there is naturally an image of harmony and slowness, indicating that Qi is still healthy. But if the Short Pulse is deep and choppy, can one say that Qi is not diseased?
Commentary: If breath does not circulate for one respiration, the mechanism of life is exhausted; if continuity is broken by even a hair's breadth, heaven and earth are separated. The spurious prescriptions claim that the Short Pulse has presence in the middle but absence at both ends, representing insufficiency from its proper position. According to this theory, the pulse would be severed and unconnected. Since the pulse implies connectivity, if it does not connect upwards, it is Yang Severance (Yang Jue); if it does not connect downwards, it is Yin Severance (Yin Jue); both are pulses of certain death. How could the mere appearance of a Short Pulse lead to peril and demise? Dai Tongfu also realized this, stating, "The Short Pulse should only be seen at the Cun and Chi positions; if a Short Pulse is seen at the Guan position, it means it does not connect to the Cun above nor the Chi below, constituting a Yin-Yang Severance pulse leading to certain death." Tongfu's view is highly insightful. However, whether the Chi or Cun is short, it still falls into the categories of Yin or Yang Severance. It is unknown that the Short Pulse is not severed at both ends; rather, the two ends lie low and sink, while the middle protrudes and floats, remaining connected. Hehu (Wang Shuhe) said, "It returns upon touching the finger, failing to fill the position." This is also not a correct discussion of the Short Pulse. Lizhen (Li Shizhen) said, "The Long Pulse belongs to the Liver and is suitable for Spring; the Short Pulse belongs to the Lung and is suitable for Autumn. By examining the Lung and Liver, the Long and Short pulses will naturally appear." Therefore, we know that if it is not the appropriate season or position, it constitutes a pathological pulse. Whenever a Short Pulse is obtained, it must indicate Qi and Blood deficiency. Why do the spurious prescriptions point to Qi stagnation? Jiegu (Zhang Congzheng) even wished to treat it with Croton Seed (Badou) Divine Medicine, which is truly incomprehensible.