Bladder MeridianBL9

Yuzhen 玉枕

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Back of the head, 1.3 cun out from the back midline, level with the upper edge of the external occipital protuberance.

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

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

Yuzhen — 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.

Yuzhen — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Occipital bone · Occipitalis muscle · Occipital vein

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

On this page

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

1Where is Yuzhen?

Back of the head, 1.3 cun out from the back midline, level with the upper edge of the external occipital protuberance.

It is where the line of the outer edge of the trapezius, carried upward, meets that level.

Naohu (GV17) is at the same height.

Beneath the point

Occipital bone · Occipitalis muscle · Occipital vein

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: at the level of the upper border of the external occipital protuberance (same height as GV17 and GB19), 1.3 cun (23.9 mm along the skin; 1 cun = 18.38 mm) from the back midline.

2How do I find it on my body?

Find the most prominent bony bump low on the back of the skull (external occipital protuberance) and take the height of its upper edge.
Trace the outer edge of the thick neck muscle (trapezius) upward with a fingertip.
Press where that line crosses the height you took first.

Check · it is level with Naohu on the midline.

📖 Words explained

external occipital protuberance: The bony bump in the lower middle of the back of the head. Sliding your hand up from the nape, it is the first bone you meet.
occipital vein: The vein that collects blood from the scalp at the back of the head and runs down toward the neck.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

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?

The name means 'jade pillow'; the occipital bone was once called the 'jade pillow bone', the part of the head that rests on a pillow.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Yuzhen?

Back of the head, 1.3 cun out from the back midline, level with the upper edge of the external occipital protuberance. It is where the line of the outer edge of the trapezius, carried upward, meets that level. Naohu (GV17) is at the same height.

How do I find Yuzhen?

Find the most prominent bony bump low on the back of the skull (external occipital protuberance) and take the height of its upper edge. Trace the outer edge of the thick neck muscle (trapezius) upward with a fingertip. Press where that line crosses the height you took first. it is level with Naohu on the midline.

What should I watch out for?

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.

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Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 104
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)
Classical record: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3, sec. 3 (1.3 cun beside Naohu)

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.