Acupuncture Point “Hegu” (LI4) Is Close to the Vascular Branch from the Superficial Branch of the Radial Nerve

• Published in: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine 2019-01, Vol.2019 (2019), p.1-6
• Main Authors: Nakano, Takashi, Sakabe, Kou, Ohmichi, Mika, Koike, Taro, Terayama, Hayato, Tano, Kaori, Naito, Munekazu, Umemoto, Kanae, Ohmichi, Yusuke
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Alcohol; Arteries; Fibers; Hand (anatomy); Hand surgery; Hands; Large intestine; Medicine; Metacarpal; Raynaud disease; Skin; Surgery; Veins & arteries
• ISSN: 1741-427X; 1741-4288
• DOI: 10.1155/2019/6879076

The acupuncture point “Hegu” (LI4) has been used for treating peripheral circulatory failure, which is located in the area covered by the superficial branch of the radial nerve (SBRN). SBRN has branches reaching arteries, so-called vascular branches (VBs), which are thought to be involved in the arterial constriction. The distribution areas of the VBs from the SBRN have been reported, but the positional relationship between these distribution areas and the acupuncture points are not known. To examine the positional relationship between LI4 and VBs from the SBRN, forty hands were examined to assess the positional relationship between the acupuncture points “Erjian” (LI2), “Sanjian” (LI3), LI4, and “Yangxi” (LI5) in the Yangming Large Intestine Meridian of Hand, which are located in the area covered by SBRN, and the VBs from the SBRN. After the VBs were identified, the distances from the acupuncture points (LI2, LI3, LI4, and LI5) to the point where the VBs reached the radial artery or the first dorsal metacarpal artery were measured. VBs reaching the radial arteries were observed in all specimens. The mean distances from LI2, LI3, LI4, and LI5 to the point where the VBs reached the radial artery were 64.2 ± 8.2 mm, 42.0 ± 7.5 mm, 4.3 ± 4.3 mm, and 33.0 ± 4.8 mm, respectively. LI4 was significantly closer than the other acupuncture points (P