Second, the morphology and functions of meridians
Meridian, like other organizations, has a real structure composed of two parts: morphology and function. Why ancient and modern medical scholars fail to see the meridians in human anatomy? It is because they did not understand and grasp the true structure of the triple energizer in human body[11]. All medical doctors see vascular vessels, nerves, viscera, and also very often tendons, fascias, nerve sheath and other systemic connective tissues in practical anatomy of the human body structure, since they took the fibrous connective tissues only as human body ubiquitous connective tissue, and could not understand the true nature of the triple energizer, hence they had overlooked the living reality of meridians organization and ignored it up to now.
We found for the first time that the formation and distribution of meridians are along the triple energizer connective tissue system. Therefore, we combine them into a triple energizer-meridian system[4].
How does the meridian information enter the viscera? The distribution of meridians is from small to large, from shallow to deep, through the acupoints of Well, Brook, Stream, River and Sea into the triple energizer-meridian system established on the surrounding connective tissue network and into the viscera.
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) does not make clear the anatomic relationship between triple energizer and meridians. It treats them separately, and integrates them into one.We believe that only by establishing triple energizer-meridian fibrous connective tissue network in the viscera, can the comprehensive transportation function of systemic information integration be achieved. This system, like the global Internet system that connects the world, allows biological information to pass through the body. Slight movement of a part may affect overall functionality.
The triple energizer-meridian system connects and supports all human tissues, having the trunk and subnetwork throughout the body. This distribution reflects its functions as the supporting and transmitting system. The meridians include twelve meridians, fifteen large collaterals and eight extraordinary meridians(Qijingbamai). The twelve meridians are divided into twelve divergent channels which are the branches of twelve meridians going into the way of six pairs of viscera. The twelve meridians are also divided into twelve meridians sinews connecting muscles and joint tissues in order to maintain the normal function of joint tissues. Finally, the twelve meridians form twelve skin areas in the range of cutaneous innervations. The fifteen large collaterals can be subdivided into minute collaterals and then assigned to the skin to form superficial collaterals so as to produce network effect. In the end, the uninterrupted distribution of meridians will continuously link the interior-exterior Yin Yang of related viscera, so as to complete the triple energizer-meridian supporting, allocating and fostering functions. The eight extraordinary meridians assist twelve meridians to finish the overall network. Therefrom, each human viscus finds its place and coordinate in the triple energizer-meridian network, endlessly playing active role in its circulation. The functions generated are the foundation of the whole body functions with all-embracing[4,11].
The triple energizer-meridian main function is to remove the pathogen among the surface of the body, viscera and cells by the circulation and distribution of nutrient Qi(Yingxue) and defense Qi(Weiqi) which conduct energy information unblocked and regulate spiritual and physical balance.