Yuanye 淵腋
Side of the chest, on the midaxillary line, in the fourth intercostal space.
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Serratus anterior muscle · External intercostal muscles · Internal intercostal muscles
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Yuanye.
On this page
1Where is Yuanye?
Side of the chest, on the midaxillary line, in the fourth intercostal space.
Serratus anterior muscle · External intercostal muscles · Internal intercostal muscles
2How do I find it on my body?
- Raise the arm and drop a vertical line from the middle of the armpit (midaxillary line).
- On the front of the chest, find the 2nd rib beside the sternal angle.
- Count down to the 4th intercostal space and follow that gap round to the side.
- Press where the gap meets the vertical line.
- external intercostal muscles
- The outer layer of thin muscles filling the gaps between the ribs. They help lift the ribs when you breathe in.
- intercostal space
- The gap between two ribs, felt with a fingertip as a slight groove between bone and bone. It is named after the rib above it (the gap below the first rib is the first intercostal space).
- internal intercostal muscles
- The layer of thin rib-gap muscles just inside the external intercostals. They help lower the ribs when you breathe out hard.
- midaxillary line
- A vertical line dropped down the side of the trunk from the middle of the armpit, with the arm raised.
- sternal angle
- The slight horizontal ridge where the manubrium meets the body of the breastbone; slide a finger down from the notch at the base of the neck and it catches on it. The second rib attaches right beside it, so it is the starting mark for counting ribs.
- serratus anterior
- A muscle attached to the side ribs like saw teeth and running to the inner edge of the shoulder blade; it holds the blade against the chest wall when you push forward. In lean people its teeth show on the side of the chest.
3Before you press
- The pleura and lung lie close beneath the rib spaces — do not dig a fingertip in deeply.
- Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
- Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
- For crushing chest pain or sudden breathlessness, call emergency services at once; do not try acupressure.
4How has it been used traditionally?
- A Gallbladder meridian point on the side of the chest; the Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing says to take it with the arm raised.
- The name is usually translated as 'Armpit Abyss'.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Yuanye?
Side of the chest, on the midaxillary line, in the fourth intercostal space.
How do I find Yuanye?
Raise the arm and drop a vertical line from the middle of the armpit (midaxillary line). On the front of the chest, find the 2nd rib beside the sternal angle. Count down to the 4th intercostal space and follow that gap round to the side. Press where the gap meets the vertical line.
What should I watch out for?
The pleura and lung lie close beneath the rib spaces — do not dig a fingertip in deeply. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care. For crushing chest pain or sudden breathlessness, call emergency services at once; do not try acupressure.
Sources
- Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 182
- Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
- Korean anatomical terms and point names: KMCRIC Standard Acupoint DB (Korea)
- Traditional use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
- 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.