Liver Channel & Related Anatomy – Review Flashcards

Posterior thigh landmark demo
- Ischial tuberosity (superior–medial quadrant): common origin for hamstrings
- Long head of biceps femoris
- Semitendinosus
- Semimembranosus (wider tendon; inserts on medial tibial condyle)
- Tibial insertion area for semitendinosus/semimembranosus used to locate LIV-8 (medial knee)
Inguinal triangle (femoral triangle)
- Borders: Sartorius (lateral), Adductor longus (medial), Inguinal ligament (superior)
- Contents (medial → lateral): Femoral vein, femoral artery, femoral nerve
  → Remember “V A N”
- Clinical caution: any needling (LIV-10, 11, 12; SP-12) risks neuro-vascular injury & allegations of sexual misconduct → always obtain informed consent

Location
- Knee flexed, in depression superior-anterior to medial tibial condyle, posterior to semimembranosus & semitendinosus tendons, ≈ $1 ext{cun}$ above medial end of popliteal crease
Nature
- He-Sea, Water point → “Mother” of Wood channel (5-element law)
Needling: Perpendicular $0.5\text{–}0.8\text{cun}$
Actions
- Benefits Liver, clears Damp-Heat in Lower Jiao
- Relaxes sinews, nourishes Liver Blood
Indications
- Damp-Heat urogenital disorders: burning dysuria, genital itching/swelling, uterine prolapse
- Medial knee/thigh pain
- Liver-Blood xu: headache, dizziness, menstrual disorders

Location: $4\text{cun}$ superior to medial femoral epicondyle, between vastus medialis & sartorius (anterior to sartorius)
Nature: No special category
Needling: Perp. $0.5\text{–}0.8\text{cun}$
Actions/Indications
- Regulates menses; benefits Lower Jiao (retention of urine, enuresis)
- Lumbo-sacral & lower-abdomen pain

Location: $3\text{cun}$ inferior to ST-30 (Qi-Chong), on lateral border of adductor longus tendon
Nature: Non-specific
Needling: Perp. $0.5\text{–}1.0\text{cun}$
Actions/Indications
- Clears Damp-Heat from Lower Jiao: abdominal distention, genital swelling, painful urination

Location: $1\text{cun}$ inferior to LIV-10, still on lateral edge of adductor longus
Needling: Perp. $0.5\text{–}1.0\text{cun}$
Actions/Indications: Similar to LIV-10; emphasizes menstrual regulation & thigh pain

Location
- $1\text{cun}$ inferior & $2.5\text{cun}$ lateral to REN-2
- In inguinal groove, medial to femoral vein, inferior-lateral to pubic spine
Needling
- Oblique-medial $0.5\text{–}0.8\text{cun}$ → avoid vessel; moxa contra-indicated
Actions/Indications
- Spreads Liver Qi, drains Damp-Heat from genitals; hernia, lower-abd pain

Location: At tip of 11-th floating rib, on/near mid-axillary line (level with elbow when arm at side)
Nature
- Front-Mu of Spleen
- Influential point of Zang (Yin) organs
- Cross-point: LIV & GB
Needling: Oblique $0.3\text{–}0.5\text{cun}$ (Risk enlarged liver/spleen)
Actions
- Harmonises Liver & Spleen; relieves food retention
Indications
- LV–SP disharmony: hypochondriac distention, borborygmus, vomiting, diarrhoea

Location: Directly below nipple, 6-th intercostal space, $4\text{cun}$ lateral to mid-line (1 cun lateral to REN channel)
Nature
- Front-Mu of Liver
- Crossing: LIV, SP, Yīn-Wéi
Needling: Oblique $0.3\text{–}0.5\text{cun}$ (too deep → pneumothorax)
Actions
- Promotes Liver Qi flow; harmonises Liver & Stomach
- Clears heat from Blood
Indications
- LV Qi invading ST: epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting
- Febrile diseases with blood-heat (e.g.
  bleeding rashes)

Shu sequence for Yin channels: Jing-Well (Wood) → Ying-Spring (Fire) → Shu-Stream (Earth) → Jing-River (Metal) → He-Sea (Water)
Liver channel mapping
- $\text{Wood}=\text{LIV-1}$ (Element point)
- $\text{Fire}=\text{LIV-2}$ (Son) – use to sedate excess (LV Fire/Yang)
- $\text{Earth}=\text{LIV-3}$ (Yuan-Source) – general regulator
- $\text{Metal}=\text{LIV-4}$
- $\text{Water}=\text{LIV-8}$ (Mother) – tonify for deficiency (e.g.
  Liver-Blood xu)
Mother–Child doctrine: Tonify mother (Water) for Wood deficiency; drain son (Fire) for Wood excess

Inguinal points (LIV-10–12, SP-12) → high risk of vascular injury & patient discomfort
- Always explain purpose, obtain written informed consent, use towels/drapes
- Avoid Moxa on LIV-12 (prox. femoral vessels)
LIV-13: avoid deep needling if hepatosplenomegaly suspected
LIV-14: risk of pneumothorax with perpendicular insertion

Stores Blood → nourishes sinews, eyes, regulates menses
- Activity = blood to channels; Rest = blood returns to Liver
Ensures free coursing of Qi (Shu/Xie) → affects
- Emotional state (anger)
- Digestion (descend ST/LU; ascend SP)
- Bile secretion, bowel movement
Controls sinews; manifests in nails; opens into eyes; houses Hun (ethereal soul)
Common pathologies
- Qi stagnation, Blood xu, Blood stasis, Yang rising, Fire, Wind, Cold invasion

Symptom	Likely Pattern	Representative Point(s)
Blurred vision, floaters, dry eyes	LV-Blood xu	LIV-8, LIV-3
Dry, gritty eyes	LV-Yin xu	LIV-8 + KI-6
Painful, fixed ocular pain	Blood stasis	LIV-6 + SP-10
Distending, tearing, watery eyes	LV-Yang rising	LIV-3 + GB-20
Red, swollen, burning eyes	LV Fire	LIV-2 + LI-11
Eyelid twitch / eyeball tremor	LV Wind	LIV-2, LIV-3 + DU-16
Red painful eyes w/anxiety	Heart Fire	HT-8, HT-3
Chronic visual decline (age)	KI-Essence xu	KI-3, BL-23

Memorise: locations, categories, depths/angles, functions, indications
Know 5-Shu sequence for all three Foot-Yin channels (SP, LV, KI)
Understand mother/son sedation-tonification logic
Be able to list safety cautions for each risky point
Practice proportional measurement: $1\text{cun}=\text{ptn middle phalanx}, 12\text{cun}=HT distance$ etc.

"TAI" cluster (Great points)
- LIV-3 Tai Chong (Great Rushing)
- SP-3 Tai Bai (Great White)
- KI-3 Tai Xi (Great Stream)
- LU-9 Tai Yuan (Great Abyss)
Inguinal order (superior → inferior): ST-30 → LIV-12 → SP-12 → LIV-11 → LIV-10

Positive attitude; stress management
Balanced diet, moderated fats/alcohol
Regular exercise & adequate sleep
Simple Liver-soothing tea
- $3\,g$ aged citrus peel + $5\,g$ rosebuds + $5\,g$ chrysanthemum → steep $5\,min$ in boiling water