Multicenter study on ultrasound characteristics of acupoints in the Hand Yangming Meridian and related factors.

Authors

Fangqin Liu, Yunhao Luo, Jiaojun Yan, Zhengyan Wang, Shiping Wu, Shuting Li, Xuhong Nan, Chunxia Cheng, Xuerong Fu, Yalin Lu, Xuemei Xia, Huan Du, Zhengchao Fan, Lang Qiao

Published in

Frontiers in medicine. Volume 13. Pages 1928250. Epub Sep 23, 2026.

Abstract

To investigate sonographic characteristics and influencing factors of Hegu (LI 4), Xialian (LI 8) and Shousanli (LI 10) on the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian via multimodal ultrasonography.
In total of 110 healthy volunteers were recruited across multiple centers, with standardized localization of Hegu(HG, LI 4), Xialian(XL, LI 8) andshousanli(SSL, LI 10) performed. Grayscale ultrasonography, color Doppler flow imaging and shear wave elastography were used for ultrasonic data acquisition. Needle tip depth, acupoint-bone adjacent distance, tissue composition, blood perfusion and biomechanical properties at acupoints were quantitatively detected.
Baseline information and observational indices were consistent among research centers (P > 0.05). No correlations were identified between acupoint ultrasonic parameters and volunteers' baseline characteristics (P > 0.05). The median skin depth and mid-radius distance were 1.72 cm (1.38, 1.96 cm) and 0.93 cm (0.63, 1.24 cm) for LI 4; 1.64 cm (1.36, 1.95 cm) and 0.43 cm (0.29, 0.60 cm) for LI 8 1.75 cm (1.51, 2.14 cm) and 0.66 cm (0.45, 0.84 cm) for LI 10. Anatomically, LI 4 was mainly located in adductor pollicis muscle (62.7%), LI 8 in supinator muscle (41.8%), and LI 10 in the fascia between extensor carpi radialis longus and supinator muscles (39.1%). All three acupoints were closely associated with fascia structures (χ² = 11.864, P = 0.003)., and presented higher elastic modulus than surrounding reference tissues (P < 0.05).
Acupoints of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian have specific ultrasonic manifestations, including definite anatomical location, tight fascial attachment, increasing fascial correlation along the meridian, and superior local tissue biomechanics. This study provides quantitative ultrasonic evidence for the meridian-connective tissue hypothesis, and offers a practical method for exploring acupuncture mechanisms.

PMID:
42846028
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 08 Oct 2026.

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