Chinese Medicine : Twelve Musculotendinous Regions of the Regular Channels

The Twelve Musculotendinous Regions of the Regular Channels

The musculotendinous regions of the twelve regular channels are the continuation of this channel system extending over the extremities of the organic body. The feature of their distribution is that they run on the body surface and to not enter the internal organs. Their traveling courses start from the extremities of the four limbs and proceed to the head and trunk. Taiyang and Shaoyin run to the posterior aspect, Shaoyang and Jueyin to the lateral side, and Yangming and Taiyin to the anterior aspect. All the musculotendinous regions of the regular channels are interconnected with each other.

Their main physiological function is to restrict the bones and facilitate the joints. As the Suwen records, "The musculotendinous regions of the regular channels are in charge of the bones and facilitate the joints."9