Research shows that most
acupuncture points are located in
areas on the skin of decreased
electrical resistance or increased
electrical
conductivity.
In
addition, it has been found that
acupuncture points are closely
associated with free nerve endings,
veins,
lymphatics,
and
an
aggregation of mast cells. There
are over 300 acupuncture points in
small animals. Acupuncture points
correspond to four known neural
structures. Type I acupuncture
points, which make up 67% of all
points, are considered motor
points. The motor point is the point
in a muscle which, when electrical
stimulation is applied, will produce
a maximal contraction with minimal
intensity of stimulation. Motor
points are located in areas where
nerves enter muscles. For instance,
acupuncture point SI-9 is located at
the junction of the deltoid muscle
and triceps brachii and is supplied
by axillary and radial nerves. Type II
points are located on the
superficial nerves in the sagittal
plane on the dorsal and ventral
midlines. For instance, acupuncture
point Bai-hui lies in the depression
between the spinous processes of
the seventh lumbar and the first
sacral vertebrae on dorsal midline
and is supplied by the dorsal branch
of the last lumbar nerve. Type III
points are located at high-density
loci of superficial nerves and nerve
plexuses. For example, acupuncture
point GB-34 is located at the point
where the common peroneal nerve
divides into the deep and superficial
branches cranial and distal to the
head of the fibula. Type IV points are
located at the muscle-tendon
junctions where the Golgi tendon
organs are located. For example,
acupuncture point BL-57 is located
at the junction between the
gastrocnemius muscle and the
calcanean tendon.
Most commonly, acupuncture
points are located on Meridians.
Meridians
are
channels
or
conduits of energy that connect
the
acupuncture
points
throughout the body. There are 14
major Meridians named Lung
Meridian, Large Intestine Meridian,
Stomach Meridian, Spleen Meridian,
Heart Meridian, Small Intestine
Meridian, Bladder Meridian, Kidney
Meridian, Pericardium Meridian,
Triple Heater Meridian, Gallbladder
Meridian, Liver Meridian, Governing
Vessel Meridian, and Conception
Vessel Meridian. A close correlation