Korean Journal of Acupuncture

Table. 1.

Table. 1.

Summary of research papers on the anatomy of acupuncture points using imaging devices in Chinese journals

No Author, year Subjects Imaging device Acupoints Investigation of obtaining qi sensation Results
1 Wang, 202414) 30 volunteers*
10 volunteers**
10 Cadavers***
10 volunteers****
US LI2 O 1.Search for descriptions of acupoint locations in ancient literature
2.Search for descriptions of acupoint locations in modern literature
3.The location of acupoint sensation by fingertip pressing on volunteers’ body surfaces
4.The location of acupoint sensation by acupuncture on volunteers’ body surfaces
5.Cadaver Anatomy
6.US exploration after acupuncture
7.Reverse verification under US guidance
2 Kang, 202416) 25 volunteers*
5 volunteers**
10 Cadavers***
10 volunteers****
US LU10 O 1.Search for descriptions of acupoint locations in ancient literature
2.The location of acupoint sensation by fingertip pressing on volunteers’ body surfaces
3.The location of acupoint sensation by acupuncture on volunteers’ body surfaces
4.Cadaver Anatomy
5.US exploration after acupuncture
6.Reverse verification under US guidance
3 Huang, 202319) 219 volunteers (103 male, 116 female) MRI BL20 X 1.The cross-sectional anatomical structure of magnetic resonance imaging
2.The dangerous depth of acupoint based on gender
3.The dangerous depth of acupoints based on body mass index
4.Comparison of the dangerous depth between obese male and female
5.Correlation analysis between acupoint danger depth and body mass index
4 Zhao, 202315) 30 volunteers*
10 volunteers**
10 Cadavers***
10 volunteers****
US LI3 O 1.Search for descriptions of acupoint locations in ancient literature
2.Search for descriptions of acupoint locations in modern literature
3.The location of acupoint sensation by fingertip pressing on volunteers’ body surfaces
4.The location of acupoint sensation by acupuncture on volunteers’ body surfaces
5.Cadaver Anatomy
6.US exploration after acupuncture
7.Reverse verification under US guidance
5 Lin, 202320) 7 volunteers (4 male, 3 female) US ST34, ST36, ST37, ST38, ST39, ST40 O 1.The anatomy Structure of ST34, ST36, ST37, ST38, ST39, ST40 during obtaining qi
2.The obtaining qi score of ST34, ST36, ST37, ST38, ST39, ST40
3.The correlation of between acupoint danger depth and obtaining qi
4.The obtaining qi score at different anatomical levels
6 Li, 202317) 30 volunteers*
10 volunteers**
10 Cadavers***
10 volunteers****
US LI4 O 1.Search for descriptions of acupoint locations in ancient literature
2.Search for descriptions of acupoint locations in modern literature
3.The location of acupoint sensation by fingertip pressing on volunteers’ body surfaces
4.The location of acupoint sensation by acupuncture on volunteers’ body surfaces
5.Cadaver Anatomy
6.US exploration after acupuncture
7.Reverse verification under US guidance
7 Chen, 202221) 61 volunteers (41 male, 20 female) MRI BL21, BL22, BL23, BL50, BL51, BL52 X 1.Renal regional anatomical structure
2.Comparison of dangerous depth and effective safe depth of acupoints in the renal region
3.Comparison of dangerous depth and effective safe depth of renal acupoints in subjects of different body types
8 Hu, 202222) 8 volunteers (4 male, 4 female) MRI BL23 X 1.Anatomical structure of BL23 in terms of needling layer
2.Comparison of MRI image and traditional anatomical structure in of morphological section
3.MRI differences in BL23 across volunteer subjects
4.Measurement of acupuncture depth at BL23
9 Hu, 202123) 36 volunteers (18 male, 18 female) MRI BL24 X 1.The cross-sectional anatomical structure of BL24 acupoint MRI
2.The dangerous depth of direct needling of BL24
3.The relation between the dangerous depth of BL24 and body types
10 Yan, 201924) 40 volunteers (22 male, 18 female) US LI7 O 1.Anatomical location of LI7 during acupoint sensation
2.The relation between acupoints and fascia
3.Energy Doppler of LI7 and reference point
4.Comparison table of elastic values of LI7 and reference point before and after
11 Wu, 201725) 60 volunteers (30 male, 30 female) US ST36 O 1.The tissue structure and imaging characteristics of the ST36 during the process of obtaining acupoint sensation
2.The Relation between needle stimulation depth and the acupoint sensation
3.The distribution of needle tips in different tissue structures during acupoint sensation
4.The influence of gender and left and right sides on the correlation between acupoint sensation and fascia
12 Yang, 201526) 15 volunteers(5 male, 10 female) US LI10 O 1.Anatomical location needle tips during acupoint sensation on LI10
2.The distance between the tip of the needle and the skin, the average thickness of the fat layer through which the needle has passed, and the distance between the tip of the needle and radius
13 Chuai, 200218) 30 patients with stomach pain (19 male, 11 female) CT CV12 X 1.Needle penetration depth on CV12
2.Needle insertion and anatomical results
3.Clinical treatment effects and side effects of gastric pain
14 Dang, 199727) 3 Cadavers (2 male, 1 female)
1 male volunteer
CT LU1, LU2, LU3, LU4, LU5, LU6, LU7, LU8, LU9, LU10, LU11 O 1.The relation between acupoint and connective tissue (structure, depth)
15 Yu, 199628) 5 Cadavers
Volunteer NA
CT HT7 X 1.Layered anatomical structure
2.Cadaver cross-sectional structure
3.CT cross-sectional structure

*Fingertip pressing on body surfaces. **Acupuncture. ***Anatomy. ****Ultrasonography during acupuncture. CT : computed tomography, MRI : magnetic resonance imaging, US : ultrasonography.

Korean J Acupunct 2024;41:68-78 https://doi.org/10.14406/acu.2024.010
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