Bladder MeridianBL33

Zhongliao 中髎

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Sacrum, in the third posterior sacral foramen.

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

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

Zhongliao — 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.

Zhongliao — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Sacrum

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

On this page

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

1Where is Zhongliao?

Sacrum, in the third posterior sacral foramen.

Beneath the point

Sacrum

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: skin right over posterior sacral foramen 3, found by depth-mapping the back of the sacrum (15.0 mm from the midline).

2How do I find it on my body?

Find the bony point under the dimple above each buttock: the posterior superior iliac spine.
A line joining the lower edges of the two spines crosses the midline at the S2 spinous process.
Midway from the posterior superior iliac spine to the S2 spinous process, feel for a dip: the second posterior sacral foramen (Ciliao, BL32).
Move down from the second foramen: the first dip you meet is the third posterior sacral foramen.
Press the middle of that dip.

Check · it is level with Zhonglushu (BL29).

📖 Words explained

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

Do not press this point during pregnancy.
Points over the low back and sacrum are traditionally avoided in pregnancy (WHO acupuncture safety guidelines, 1999).
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?

The third of the four sacral-foramen points. Together, BL31–BL34 on both sides are called the 'eight crevices' (Baliao).

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Zhongliao?

Sacrum, in the third posterior sacral foramen.

How do I find Zhongliao?

Find the bony point under the dimple above each buttock: the posterior superior iliac spine. A line joining the lower edges of the two spines crosses the midline at the S2 spinous process. Midway from the posterior superior iliac spine to the S2 spinous process, feel for a dip: the second posterior sacral foramen (Ciliao, BL32). Move down from the second foramen: the first dip you meet is the third posterior sacral foramen. Press the middle of that dip. it is level with Zhonglushu (BL29).

Can I press it during pregnancy?

Do not press this point during pregnancy.

What should I watch out for?

Do not press this point during pregnancy. Points over the low back and sacrum are traditionally avoided in pregnancy (WHO acupuncture safety guidelines, 1999). Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousCiliao · BL32 Next →Xialiao · BL34

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 116
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 18 — same location
Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary
Traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
Classical record: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3, sec. 8
Safety: WHO Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture (1999), p. 20 — lumbosacral points in pregnancy

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.