Kidney Channel

Pathway for Kidney Primary Channel

The external pathway: 

• The Kidney Primary Channel originates beneath the little toe. It connects to Zhiyin BL-67 of the Bladder Primary Channel and forms the Foot Yin-Yang circuit. 
• It then flows to Yongquan KID-1 under the foot sole and then Rangu KID-2 below the navicular tuberosity. 
• The Channel continues to Taixi KID-3 posterior to the medial malleolus, descends through the heel and then ascends to Zhaohai KID-6 below the medial malleolus. 
• The pathway then ascends the medial aspect of the lower leg, crossing Spleen Channel at Yinlingquan SP-6. 
• It continues going up along the postero-medial aspect of the thigh and reaches the perineum. 
• From there, it ascends to the lower abdomen at Hengu KID-11 on the pubic bone. 
• The external pathway continues going up 0.5 cun lateral to the anterior midline until reaching Youmen KID-21 on the 5th intercostal space. 
• Then the distance to the anterior midline increases to 2 cun until the infraclavicular fossa. 

The internal pathway: 

• From the perineum, a deep internal pathway separates from the external one and flows to Changqiang DU-1. 
• It then runs up along the spine to the Kidneys and then the Bladder, with smaller branches connecting the Directing Vessel at Guanyuan REN-4, Zhongji REN-3 and Yingjiao REN-7. 
  • From the Kidneys, a branch ascends to the Liver and then spreads in the Lungs. It passes the trachea and terminates at the tongue root. 
  • From the Lungs, another branch flows to the Heart and connects to the Pericardium Primary Channel. It then spreads in the chests and links to Shanzhong REN-17. 

Pathway for Kidney Divergent Channel

• The Kidney Divergent Channel separates from the Primary Channel at Yinggu KID-10 in the popliteal fossa. 
• Intersecting the Bladder Divergent Channel at Weizhong BL-40 at the same level, it then ascends to Chengfu BL-36 of the gluteal crease center. 
• It then penetrates the anus and connects to the Kidneys and the Bladder. 
• Continuing going up to Shenshu BL-23 around the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2), it then meets the Girdling Vessel, following it around the waist to the abdomen. 
• It then ascends laterally to the midline to the infraclavicular fossa. 
• Arriving at Lianquan REN-23 at the neck, it then converges with the Bladder Primary Channel at Tianzhu BL-10 at the neck nape. 

Pathway for Kidney Sinew Channel

• The Kidney Sinew Channel originates beneath the little toe. 
• After crossing the foot sole diagonally, it connects to the Spleen Sinew Channel and binds at the medial malleolus.
  • A small branch travels to the calcaneus from there. 
• The main Sinew Channel ascends the  posteromedial aspect of the leg and binds at the medial condyle of the tibia. 
• Crossing the Bladder Sinew Channel, it continues running up along the medial surface of the thigh and binds above the external genitalia around Zhongji REN-3 and Qugu REN-2, where it also connects to other Yin Sinew Channels. 
• It then runs through the abdomen, ascending the spine to the neck nape, where it connects to the Bladder Sinew Channel. 
  • An internal branch originates from the genitalia, travels internally to the spinal vertebrae, ascends the inner aspect of the spine all the way to the occiput. It meets the Bladder Sinew Channel there as well. 

Pathway for Kidney Luo-Connecting Vessel System

• The Kidney Luo-Connecting Vessel separates from the Primary Channel at Dazhong KID-4, on the posterior aspect of the medial melleolus. 
• It curves around the heel and enters internally to connect with the Bladder Channel. 
• It then follows the Kidney Primary Channel to Shanzhong REN-17 in the middle of the two nipples. 
• Then the internal Channel runs through the chest to the spine and spreads in the lumber vertebrae.