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 Sanyinjiao 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.
• Then the distance to the anterior midline increases to 2 cun until the infraclavicular fossa, where Shufu KID-27 is located. 

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. 
• It ascends along the Bladder Divergent Channel on the thigh and passes Weizhong BL-40 of the center of popliteal fossa and Chengfu BL-36 of the gluteal crease center.
• It then penetrates the anus and connects to the Kidneys. 
• Continuing going up to Shenshu BL-23 around the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2), it then splits to two branches: 
  • One branch follows the Girdling Vessel around the waist to the abdomen. 
  • One branch continues ascending to the root of the tongue. It then turn around to the nape of the neck and converge with the Bladder Primary Channel around Tianzhu BL-10. 

     

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. 
  • Then an internal branch runs through the abdomen, ascending the spinal vertebrae all the way to the neck nape, where it connects to the Bladder Sinew Channel, around Tianzhu BL-10. 

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 malleolus. 
• 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 pathway goes internally. It runs through the chest to the spine and spreads in the lumber vertebrae.