Bladder MeridianBL66

Zutonggu 足通谷

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Little toe, in the dip just beyond and outside the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint (the little toe's base joint).

Ying-spring point (Water)

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

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

Zutonggu — 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.

Zutonggu — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Proximal phalanx of fifth finger of foot · Flexor digiti minimi of foot · Dorsal digital arteries of foot

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

On this page

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

1Where is Zutonggu?

Little toe, in the dip just beyond and outside the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint (the little toe's base joint).

It is on the red-white flesh line.

Beneath the point

Proximal phalanx of fifth finger of foot · Flexor digiti minimi of foot · Dorsal digital arteries of foot

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: 7.4 mm beyond the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint (just past the base of the little toe's first bone), on the border of sole skin.

2How do I find it on my body?

Find the knuckle at the base of the little toe (fifth metatarsophalangeal joint).
Slide just in front of it, toward the toe tip.
On the outer side, press the dip on the red-white flesh line.

Check · Shugu (BL65) sits on the other side of the same joint.

📖 Words explained

metatarsophalangeal joint: The joint where a metatarsal meets the first bone of a toe, the root joint of the toe. Bend the toes and you feel it as a round knuckle on the top of the foot.
dorsal digital arteries of foot: The thin arteries running to the toes on the top of the foot.
proximal phalanx: The first bone of a finger or toe, at the root end. It forms a joint with the metacarpal or metatarsal bone.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

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 Ying-spring (Water) point of a Water channel — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
'Zu' (foot) distinguishes it from Tonggu (KI20) on the abdomen.
The name joins tong (to pass through) and gu (valley).

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

5Classical text

Donguibogam (Heo Jun, 1613), Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Zutonggu"

在足小指本節之前外側陷中足太陽脈之所流爲滎 …《銅人》

① On the outer side of the little toe, in the dip in front of its base joint. This is where the Foot Taiyang channel trickles on, which makes it the Ying-spring point (Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing).

Source tag as given in the Donguibogam: Tongren = Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing (1026).
No garbled glyphs in this entry.
The Donguibogam has two entries called Tonggu: this one, listed among the Foot Taiyang points right after Zhiyin, is the foot point; the one '1 cun below Youmen' is the abdominal Tonggu (KI20).
"…" marks the needling depth, retention time and moxa count, left out because they are for licensed practitioners.

Original text as written · translation is ours.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Zutonggu?

Little toe, in the dip just beyond and outside the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint (the little toe's base joint). It is on the red-white flesh line.

How do I find Zutonggu?

Find the knuckle at the base of the little toe (fifth metatarsophalangeal joint). Slide just in front of it, toward the toe tip. On the outer side, press the dip on the red-white flesh line. Shugu (BL65) sits on the other side of the same joint.

What should I watch out for?

Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousShugu · BL65 Next →Zhiyin · BL67

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 132
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 20 — same location
Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary
Traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
Traditional use: Hyeoljari Seodang (Bookdramang, 2015; Korean), ch. 7 "Zutonggu" and appendix (Yixue Rumen indications)
Classical text: Donguibogam, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Zutonggu" — Wikisource public edition (no garbled glyphs)
Indications: Yixue Rumen vol. 1 (Wikisource)
Classification source: Lingshu ch. 2 (Ben Shu); Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3, sec. 35 (Water)

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.