Governor VesselGV17

Naohu 腦戶

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

On the head, in the hollow just above the external occipital protuberance.

Meeting point of the Governor Vessel and the Bladder (Foot Taiyang) channelAlso called Zafeng (匝風) and Hui'e (會額)

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

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

Naohu — 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.

Naohu — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Occipital bone · Epicranial aponeurosis · Epicranial aponeurosis

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

On this page

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

1Where is Naohu?

On the head, in the hollow just above the external occipital protuberance.

It is where the back midline crosses the level of the bump's upper edge.

Beneath the point

Occipital bone · Epicranial aponeurosis · Epicranial aponeurosis

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: on the posterior midline skin at the level of the upper border of the external occipital protuberance (8.0 mm above the protuberance bone point) — the same height as BL9 and GB19. The protuberance is not distinct on this skull, so its upper border was taken where the bone outline changes slope from the nuchal surface to the back of the skull. It is 2.21 cun from Qiangjian (GV18) (standard 1.5 cun) — still to be verified.

2How do I find it on my body?

Find the bony bump in the middle of the back of the head (external occipital protuberance).
Press the hollow just above its upper edge.

Check · it is level with BL9 (Yuzhen).

📖 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.
epicranial aponeurosis: A thin, tough sheet of tendon covering the top of the head like a cap, joined to frontalis in front and occipitalis behind. When the scalp moves, it slides with this sheet.

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?

The name means 'door of the brain'. The Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (vol. 3) classifies it as a meeting point of the Governor Vessel and the Foot Taiyang channel — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Naohu?

On the head, in the hollow just above the external occipital protuberance. It is where the back midline crosses the level of the bump's upper edge.

How do I find Naohu?

Find the bony bump in the middle of the back of the head (external occipital protuberance). Press the hollow just above its upper edge. it is level with BL9 (Yuzhen).

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.

← PreviousFengfu · GV16 Next →Qiangjian · GV18

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 212
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
Classification source: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vols. 3, 5 and 12

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.