Bladder MeridianBL20

Pishu 脾兪

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Upper back, 1.5 cun out from the back midline at the level of T11.

Back-shu point of the Spleen

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

Pishu — ① Where on the body? — **① Where on the body?**

Pishu — 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.

Pishu — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Vertebra t11 · Latissimus dorsi muscle · Serratus posterior inferior muscle · Longissimus thoracis muscle

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

On this page

Where is Pishu?
How do I find it on my body?
Before you press
How has it been used traditionally?
FAQ

1Where is Pishu?

Upper back, 1.5 cun out from the back midline at the level of T11.

The level is set by the lower edge of the T11 spinous process.

Beneath the point

Vertebra t11 · Latissimus dorsi muscle · Serratus posterior inferior muscle · Longissimus thoracis muscle

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: level with the lower tip of the T11 spinous process, 1.5 cun (30.9 mm; 1 cun = 20.63 mm) from the back midline.

2How do I find it on my body?

Find T12, level with the midpoint between the lower tip of the shoulder blade and the top of the iliac crest. The spinous process just above it is T11.
Take the height of the lower edge of that spinous process.
Press 1.5 cun out from the midline, over the erector spinae muscle. With the arms hanging, the midline-to-shoulder-blade distance (to its inner border) is 3 cun, or 6 cun between the two; this is half of it.

Check · it is level with Yishe (BL49) and, on the midline, with Jizhong (GV6).

What is a “cun”?

A cun is a body-scaled unit of length. The precise way is to divide a bone length into equal parts (proportional bone cun); finger widths are a quick estimate.

📖 Words explained

serratus posterior inferior: A thin muscle deep in the lower back, under latissimus dorsi. It runs from the lower back and upper lumbar bones to the lowest four ribs.
longissimus thoracis: The back part of the middle column of erector spinae (longissimus). As its name says it is long, and it straightens the lower and middle back.
iliac crest: The curved bony ridge forming the top rim of the pelvis, under your palms when you put your hands on your hips. A line joining the highest points on both sides usually crosses the fourth lumbar spinous process.
erector spinae: The group of long muscles up both sides of the spine that straighten the back and hold the body upright. Lie face down and lift your back a little, and they bulge as thick cords on each side.
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.
latissimus dorsi: The broad muscle covering the lower back and sides. It runs from the lower back and pelvis, behind the armpit, to the humerus, and pulls the arm down and back, as in a pull-up.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

Do not bear down hard on the spine or ribs with an elbow or a tool.
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?

Classified as the back-shu point of the Spleen in the Lingshu (ch. 51) — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Pishu?

Upper back, 1.5 cun out from the back midline at the level of T11. The level is set by the lower edge of the T11 spinous process.

How do I find Pishu?

Find T12, level with the midpoint between the lower tip of the shoulder blade and the top of the iliac crest. The spinous process just above it is T11. Take the height of the lower edge of that spinous process. Press 1.5 cun out from the midline, over the erector spinae muscle. With the arms hanging, the midline-to-shoulder-blade distance (to its inner border) is 3 cun, or 6 cun between the two; this is half of it. it is level with Yishe (BL49) and, on the midline, with Jizhong (GV6).

What should I watch out for?

Do not bear down hard on the spine or ribs with an elbow or a tool. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousDanshu · BL19 Next →Weishu · BL21

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 109
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 17 — same location
Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary
Traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
Classification source: Lingshu ch. 51 (Bei Shu); Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3, sec. 8

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.