[Three-dimensional reconstruction of the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin with continuous thin-section CT image].

Objective: To explore anatomical material basis of the lung meridian and its three-dimensional position in vivo.

Methods: Continuous thin-section CT image sets were collected from a normal adult female volunteer's left upper extremity after she was acupunctured at 8 acupoints in Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin (LU). The connective tissue around the needle-tip of LU acupoints in continuous thin-section CT image sets was observed. The LU acupoints and part of the meridian were three-dimensional reconstructed in vivo and displayed with digital medical technology based on the CT-scan data. Then, the images were compared with traditional meridian records.

Results: The connective tissue structure around the needle-tip of the eight LU acupoints was observed as follows: 5 acupoints were closely related to periosteum and 3 of them were closely related to blood vessels and nerve sheath. Three-dimensional reconstruction of anatomical position of the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin was successfully completed in vivo, and the traveling course of meridian was similar to classical meridian illustration in traditional Chinese medicine.

Conclusion: There is no specific entity of anatomical structure of LU acupoints and the meridian. The fascia and connective tissue may be the anatomical basis of meridian.