Background The Chinese back Shu and front Mu points, and the methodological problems involved in correlating points in skin or muscle with the internal organs. Objectives To assess the segmental relationship between the Chinese back Shu and front Mu points and the internal organs. Material and methods The acupoints and reflexes as well as their dermatomal and myotomal innervation are tabulated alongside data on the autonomic innervation of the internal organs, based on published studies and authoritative sources. Simple connections and comparisons are made between segment numbers, with minimal use of statistical analysis. Numbers of muscle layers at the diff erent point families are also compared, together with organ correlations at the diff erent layers. Results Although many other points are segmentally related to each organ, in most cases the traditional back Shu and front Mu points for a particular organ are in some way segmentally related to that organ. Correspondence is better at dermatome than myotome level except for the front Mu points. For the back Shu points, there is greater segmental organ correspondence at deeper muscle layers, whereas this relationship is reversed at the front Mu points. Other subsidiary results are presented. Conclusions These tentative results indicate that there is no compelling evidence that the traditionally accepted back Shu and front Mu points have any greater validity in terms of segmental correspondence with their associated organs than many other acupuncture points. Depth of needling, or the palpatory pressure used to assess sensitivity, must be key factors in any future discussion of the segmental organ correspondences of these points and reflexes.