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.