Neuroembryology of the Acupuncture Principal Meridians: Part 2. The Trunk

Abstract

Background: Accumulating evidence from anatomical, physiologic, and neuroimaging research shows that Classical acupuncture points stimulate nerve trunks or their branches in the head, trunk, and extremities. The first part of this article demonstrated that, in the extremities, Principal meridian distributions mirror those of major peripheral nerves there and that Classical acupuncture points are proximate to peripheral nerves there. These relationships were demonstrated to be consistent with the linear neuroembryologic development of the extremities. Objective: The aim of Part 2, is to provide anatomical and physiologic data that corroborates a neuroanatomical basis for the Principal meridians in the trunk, and that are consistent with the lateral folding in the early fetal neuroembryologic development that forms the trunk region. Methods: Adobe Photoshop software was used to apply Classical acupuncture points and Principal meridians as layers superimposed on neuroanatomical images of the trunk region, allowing demonstration of their anatomical relationships. Neurophysiologic data on the autonomic nervous system supply of the trunk organs was examined to corroborate these anatomical relationships. Results: The Principal meridian distributions in the trunk region can be conceptualized as connecting corresponding branches of the dorsal and ventral rami of the thoracic and abdominal segmental spinal nerves. Conclusions: Anatomical and physiologic data, consistent with neuroembryologic development, support the conceptualization of acupuncture Principal meridians in the trunk running perpendicular to spinal nerve branches there and connecting corresponding branches of the dorsal and ventral rami of the thoracic and abdominal segmental spinal nerves.