Pohu 魄戶
Upper back, 3 cun out from the back midline at the level of T3.
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Vertebra t3 · Descending part of trapezius muscle · Rhomboid minor muscle · Scapula
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Pohu.
On this page
1Where is Pohu?
Upper back, 3 cun out from the back midline at the level of T3.
The level is set by the lower edge of the T3 spinous process.
Vertebra t3 · Descending part of trapezius muscle · Rhomboid minor muscle · Scapula
2How do I find it on my body?
- Stand with the arms hanging. A line joining the inner ends of the two scapular spines crosses the midline at T3.
- Take the height of the lower edge of that spinous process.
- Press 3 cun out from the midline. With the arms hanging, this is the vertical line along the inner border of the shoulder blade.
- If the blade covers the spot, fold the arms in front so the shoulder blades slide outward, then press.
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.
- descending part of trapezius
- The upper part of trapezius. It starts at the back of the skull and neck and runs down to the outer collarbone, and it shrugs the shoulder up.
- rhomboid minor
- A thin muscle just above rhomboid major. It runs from the lower neck and first back bone to the upper inner edge of the shoulder blade and helps the same job.
- 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 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?
- Lateral to the Lung back-shu point (BL13); in classical theory the po (corporeal soul) belongs to the Lung, and the name means 'door of the po'.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Pohu?
Upper back, 3 cun out from the back midline at the level of T3. The level is set by the lower edge of the T3 spinous process.
How do I find Pohu?
Stand with the arms hanging. A line joining the inner ends of the two scapular spines crosses the midline at T3. Take the height of the lower edge of that spinous process. Press 3 cun out from the midline. With the arms hanging, this is the vertical line along the inner border of the shoulder blade. If the blade covers the spot, fold the arms in front so the shoulder blades slide outward, then press. it is level with Feishu (BL13) and, on the midline, with Shenzhu (GV12).
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.
Sources
- Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 120
- 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. 9 (3-cun back line)
- 3D: computed on Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · BodyParts3D © DBCLS
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.