Lanwei 闌尾
On the front of the leg, 5 B-cun below ST35 and one finger-width lateral to the front edge of the shinbone.
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Tibialis anterior muscle · Tibia
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Lanwei.
On this page
1Where is Lanwei?
On the front of the leg, 5 B-cun below ST35 and one finger-width lateral to the front edge of the shinbone.
It is 2 B-cun below ST36 and 1 B-cun above ST37.
There is one on each leg.
Tibialis anterior muscle · Tibia
2How do I find it on my body?
- Find ST36 (3 B-cun below ST35, on the line from ST35 to ST41).
- Go 2 B-cun further down the same line, about three finger-widths.
- Feel around there and pick the most tender spot.
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.
- tibialis anterior
- The thick muscle running down the front of the shin, just outside the tibia. Lift the top of your foot and it hardens on the front of the shin, with a thick tendon standing out at the inner front of the ankle.
3Before you press
- Ongoing pain in the lower right abdomen with fever or vomiting can be appendicitis — do not use acupressure; seek medical care at once or call emergency services.
- 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 is the organ name 'appendix' — a naming note, not a claim of effect.
- Korea's KMCRIC locates it by tenderness between ST36 and ST37 rather than by a fixed number.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Lanwei?
On the front of the leg, 5 B-cun below ST35 and one finger-width lateral to the front edge of the shinbone. It is 2 B-cun below ST36 and 1 B-cun above ST37. There is one on each leg.
How do I find Lanwei?
Find ST36 (3 B-cun below ST35, on the line from ST35 to ST41). Go 2 B-cun further down the same line, about three finger-widths. Feel around there and pick the most tender spot. it is one finger-width lateral to the front edge of the shinbone, over the tibialis anterior.
What should I watch out for?
Ongoing pain in the lower right abdomen with fever or vomiting can be appendicitis — do not use acupressure; seek medical care at once or call emergency services. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
Sources
- Location: Chinese national standard GB 12346-90 (Location of points), 'Standard location of extra points', p. 24
- Name and code: WHO, A Proposed Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature (1991), pp. 15-16
- Current Chinese standard: interpretation of GB/T 40997-2021 (Nomenclature and location of extra points), SAMR 2022 — only Dagukong and Pigen had their locations revised
- Locating tips and Korean terms: KMCRIC Standard Acupoint DB (Korea), extra points
- Basic point list: WHO, Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture (1999), p. 16
- ST36 and ST37 location check: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 64
- 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.