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Bladder MeridianBL10

Tianzhu 天柱

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment
Short answer

Back of the neck, in the hollow just outside the trapezius muscle.

See it in 3DRotate the body and peel back the skin to see the bones and muscles beneath.
Open the 3D Acupoint Map →

🖼See it in pictures

Tianzhu — ① Where on the body?
① Where on the body?
Tianzhu — Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right
Textbook view — skin on the left, muscle and bone underneath on the right
Location and structures come from our 3D model; only the drawing style was refined with AI. Labels are added by us.
Tianzhu — ② Up close
② Up close
Tianzhu — ③ Under the skin
③ Under the skin
Axis c2 · Splenius capitis muscle · Ascending part of trapezius muscle · Obliquus inferior capitis muscle

Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Tianzhu.

On this page
  1. Where is Tianzhu?
  2. How do I find it on my body?
  3. Before you press
  4. How has it been used traditionally?
  5. FAQ

1Where is Tianzhu?

Back of the neck, in the hollow just outside the trapezius muscle.

The height matches the upper edge of the C2 spinous process.

Beneath the point

Axis c2 · Splenius capitis muscle · Ascending part of trapezius muscle · Obliquus inferior capitis muscle

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: at the level of the top of the C2 spinous process, on the skin just outside the lateral edge of the trapezius (47.0 mm along the skin from the back midline).

2How do I find it on my body?

  1. Slide a fingertip down the midline from the base of the skull. The first large spinous process you clearly feel is C2.
  2. Take the height of its upper edge.
  3. At that height, move outward over the thick neck muscle (trapezius).
Check · there is a hollow just beyond its outer edge.
📖 Words explained
ascending part of trapezius
The lower part of trapezius. It starts at the middle and lower back bones and slants up to the spine of the shoulder blade, pulling the blade down.
splenius capitis
A flat, strap-like muscle at the back of the neck, under trapezius. It slants up from the lower neck and upper back bones to the mastoid process and back of the skull, and tips and turns the head.
spinous process
The bony spike sticking backward from the middle of each spine bone. The row of bumps you feel down the middle of the back is these, and they serve as the counting marks for back points.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when
  • This is the back of the neck.
  • Do not press hard or twist the neck while pressing.
  • Sudden severe headache or dizziness, or weakness on one side: call emergency services at once — do not try acupressure.
  • Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
  • Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

4How has it been used traditionally?

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Tianzhu?

Back of the neck, in the hollow just outside the trapezius muscle. The height matches the upper edge of the C2 spinous process.

How do I find Tianzhu?

Slide a fingertip down the midline from the base of the skull. The first large spinous process you clearly feel is C2. Take the height of its upper edge. At that height, move outward over the thick neck muscle (trapezius). there is a hollow just beyond its outer edge.

What should I watch out for?

This is the back of the neck. Do not press hard or twist the neck while pressing. Sudden severe headache or dizziness, or weakness on one side: call emergency services at once — do not try acupressure. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousYuzhen · BL9Next →Dazhu · BL11
Sources

Positions computed from the WHO standard locations (2008) on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS. For reference only — not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. See a clinician if you are unwell.