A Consideration of Safely Applying Acupuncture of the Meridian Point (Gaohuang, Koko, BL43) based on Dissection of a Cadaver, and Clinical Findings and CT Radiographic Findings in Vivo / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

Acupuncture to Gaohuang carries a risk of causing pneumothorax because it reaches the lungs at deep portion. This study was designed to consider a safe depth for acupuncture to Gaohuang.<BR>1) We inserted a needle to Gaohuang on both sides of a cadaver to examine the location of the needle tip and measure the distance from the body surface of the left Gaohuang to the pleura. The tip was located at the fifth intercostal region on both sides, and the distance was 44 mm with a rib thickness of 10 mm. 2) Using 104 students, we inserted a needle to the left Gaohuang until the tip reached the rib, and measured the distance between the bodysurface and rib. The minimal distance was 14 mm. 3) We inserted a needle to Gaohuang on both sides of two males and took CT-radiographs to examine the location of the needle tip and measure the distance from the body surface of Gaohuang to the pleura. In a man of standard body size, the needle reached the rib on the left and the intercostal region on the right. The thickness of the left rib was 10.9 mm, and the distance from body surface to pleura was 33.6 mm on the left and 28.4 mm on the right. In a man of thin body size, the needle reached the rib on both sides, with the rib thickness was 9.8 mm on the left and 8.8 mm on the right. The distance from body surface to pleura was 29.4 mm on the left and 31.8 mm on the right. The above results showed that needle insertion within 19 mm (the minimal value of the measured distance between the body surface and rib + the half thickness of the rib) is safe.

An Anatomical Consideration on Acupuncture to the Superior Cervical Ganglia / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The positional relation of the superior cervical ganglion with different anatomical structures were investigated, using cadavers, in order to devise the methods of acupuncture to the superior cervical ganglion. Furthermore, the anatomical structures penetrated by a needle which was inserted with the methods of acupuncture thus devised were investigated using another group of cadavers. The results obtained are as follows.<br>1) The superior cervical ganglion was located just above the bifurcation of the common carotid artery and medial to the angle of the mandible. The height of location of the ganglion was 30mm below the mastoid process, 21mm below the transverse process of the atlas, and 40mm above the lateral edge of the body of the hyoid bone.<br>2) From the above positional relation, we devised the method of acupuncture in which a needle was horizontally inserted from the lateral surface of the neck to the front of the transverse process of the cervical vertebra at the height 30mm below the mastoid process. We named this method the lateral acupuncture.<br>3) When considering on the basis of the lateral edge of the body of the hyoid bone, the superior cervical ganglion was located at the angles 15° lateral and 45° above.<br>4) From the above angles, we devised the method of acupuncture in which a needle was inserted from the lateral edge of the body of the hyoid bone at the angles of 45° above and 15° lateral. We named this method the anterior acupuncture.<br>5) The inserted needle of the lateral acupuncture reached the superior cervical ganglion at high frequency, it, however, had high possibility of penetrating the external and internal carotid arteries and the internal jugular vein.<br>6) The inserted needle of the anterior acupuncture reached the ganglion at slightly lower frequency, it, however, had lower possibility of penetrating the large vessels.