Stomach Channel

Pathway for Stomach Primary Channel

The internal pathway: 

• The Stomach Primary Channel originates at Yingxiang LI-20 at the lateral side of the nose. It is also the Yang axes connection of the first great circuit of Hand and Foot Yang-Ming. 
• It then runs to Jingming BL-1 at the inner eye canthus, where it crosses the Bladder Channel. 
• Descending laterally along the infraorbital ridge, it reaches Chengqi ST-1, where the Channel emerges externally under the eyes. 

The external pathway: 

• The Channel descends along the nose, passes Sibai ST-2 to Dicang ST-4, enters the upper gum and meets Governing Vessel at Renzhong DU-26, above the midpoint of the philtrum. 
• It then curves around the lips and intersects Directing Vessel at Chenjiang REN-24 in the center of the mentolabial groove. 
• After crossing the lower cheek laterally, it reaches Daying ST-5 at the angle of the mandible. 
• Continuing descending the neck along the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, it arrives at Quepen ST-12 of the supraclavicular fossa. 
• From ST-12, it continues descending, passes the nipples along the mamillary line, which is 4 cun lateral to the midline, until Rugen ST-18, which is 1 intercostal space below nipple. 
• From ST-18, the Channel gets closer to the midline (2 cun), continues going downwards and bypasses umbilics to Qichong ST-30 in the inguinal region.  
• From there, it curves and runs down further to Biguan ST-31 on the antero-lateral aspect of the thigh. 
• It continues descending along the lateral margin of the femur to the knee and then alongside the lateral margin of the tibia to the dorsum of the feet. 
• It finally terminates at Lidui ST-45 on the lateral corner of the second toe nail. 

Branches: 

• One external branch separates from Daying ST-5 in the lower angle of the mandible. It ascends and passes Xiaguan ST-7 in front of the ear. Continuing ascending to Touwei ST-8 of the temporal region, it passes the forehead and finally terminates at Shenting DU-24 of the anterior midline. 
• From Quepen ST-12 of the supraclavicular fossa, one internal branch crosses the shoulder to Dazhui DU-14, below the 7th cervical vertebra of spinous process (C7). This is also the place the Channel meets the other five Yang Primary Channel. 
• From Quepen ST-12, another internal branch descends through diaphragm and passes the Stomach and the Spleen (its paired Zang and Fu Organ). Its minor subbranches link to Shangwan REN-13, Zhongwan REN-12 and Xiawan REN-10 of the Directing Vessel. This branch rejoin the main external Channel around Qichong ST-30 in the inguinal region. 
• From Zusanli ST-36 slightly below the knee, an internal branch separates from the Primary Channel. It runs downwards to the lateral aspect of the middle toe. 
• Another internal branches starts from Chongyang ST-42 on the dorsum of the foot. It flows to Yinbai SP-1 on the medial aspect of the big toe and forms the Foot Yin-Yang connection of the first great circuit. 

Pathway for Stomach Divergent Channel

• The Stomach Divergent Channel separates from the Primary Channel at Biguan ST-31 in the middle and anterior-lateral aspect of the thigh. 
• It runs to Qichong ST-30 at the inguinal region, where the Channel goes internally. 
• Continuing ascending to the Stomach and spreading in the Spleen, it then goes up further and through the Heart. 
• It then ascends along the oesophagus to Quepen ST-12 at the suprasternal fossa. 
• Afterwards, it ascends along the neck to Renying ST-9 at the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, where it meets its Primary Channel and the Spleen divergent Channel. 
• It then runs up further to the mouth and nose, arriving at the inner eye canthus.
• From there it curves around the eye to Chengqi ST-1, where it meets the Stomach Primary Channel. 

Pathway for Stomach Sinew Channel

• The Stomach Sinew Channel originates from the middle three toes. 
• It spreads crossing the foot dorsum and binds at the tibial depression. It then separates into two branches:
  • One branch runs up along the anterolateral aspect of the leg, knee and thigh. During the journey, it binds at the lateral aspect of the knee (Yanglingquan GB-34) and hip joint. From the hip joint, it splits into two subbranches: 
    • One branch goes to Huantiao GB-30 in the direction of the greater trochanter.
    • The other one passes through the lateral abdomen and spreads across the lower ribs to the spine. 
  • The other branch runs along the tibia and binds at the level of the patella. 
    • A  short subbranch flows to the fibula head and connects to Gall Bladder Sinew Channel at Yuanglingquan GB-34 on the knee.
    • Ascending further along the anterior aspect of the thigh, the main branch binds in the pelvic region above the genitals at Qugu REN-2 and Zhongji REN-3. 
    • It then runs further up across the abdomen as well as chest, binding at Quepen ST-12 in the supraclavicular fossa. 
    • Continuing ascending along the anterolateral aspect of the neck, it binds at the angle of the mandible.
    • From there, it divides into three subbranches: 
      • One subbranch terminates  and binds in front of the ear. 
      • Another subbranch ascends to the mouth and binds besides the nose. Ascending further along nose, it connects to the Bladder Sinew Channel and creates a muscular net below the eye. 
      • The third subbranch runs up to Quanliao SI-18 at the zygomatic bone, where it connects to the other Yang Sinew Channels. 

Pathway for Stomach Luo-Connecting Vessel System

• Stomach Luo-Connecting Vessel separates from the Primary Channel at Fenglong ST-40, on the lateral side of the lower leg. 
• From there it forms a three-dimensional reticular network composed of various branches and subbranches. 
  • One branch connects with the Spleen Primary Channel interiorly and exteriorly.
  • The main branch ascends along the anterolateral aspect of the leg and torso to Quepen ST-12 in the supraclavicular fossa. It then divides into two subbranches: 
    • One crosses to the neck and terminates there. 
    • The other one ascends to the head, through occiput, and terminates at Baihui DU-20 of the vertex.