МОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ СУБСТРАТ ТОЧЕК ИГЛОУКАЛЫВАНИЯ И СИСТЕМЫ МЕРИДИАНОВ КИТАЙСКОЙ ТРАДИЦИОННОЙ МЕДИЦИНЫ

Abstract

The review summarizes studies related to current issues and concepts of the neuroanatomic basis of the meridian system and acupuncture points. The proponents of their existence have not yet come to any consensus on how they might work or be tested in a scientific context. Kim Bonghan, a professor at Pyongyang Medical University of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, discovered the anatomical structure of meridian collaterals, which he called the Bonghan corpuscles (now known as primo nodes) and the the Bonghan ducts (primo vessels), and called it the Bonghan (Kyungrak) system. In 2010, it was renamed into the primo vascular system (PVS), which exists throughout the organism, including blood and lymph vessels. PVS is an anatomical structure being a network of ducts with fluid flowing in them. This system consists of primo-vessels and primo-nodes, corresponding to acupuncture meridians, and acupuncture points, respectively. Thus, the PVS can serve as a morphological substrate for acupuncture points and meridians of traditional Chinese medicine; however, since there is no scientific consensus on the neuroanatomical basis of acupuncture, further morphological, physiological, and clinical studies are needed to promote a broader mutual understanding of this issue in the research community and beyond.