Yinxi 陰郄
Front-inner forearm, 0.5 cun above the palm-side wrist crease, on the thumb side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.
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Ulna · Flexor carpi ulnaris · Ulnar artery
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On this page
1Where is Yinxi?
Front-inner forearm, 0.5 cun above the palm-side wrist crease, on the thumb side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.
It is level with the lower edge of the ulnar head.
Ulna · Flexor carpi ulnaris · Ulnar artery
2How do I find it on my body?
- Make a loose fist so the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon stands out.
- From HT7, go 0.5 cun toward the elbow (one twenty-fourth of the 12-cun span, just above the crease).
- Press on the thumb side of the tendon.
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.
- flexor carpi ulnaris
- A muscle along the little-finger edge of the palm side of the forearm, running to the pisiform. It bends the wrist and tilts it toward the little finger.
- wrist crease
- The horizontal crease that forms at the wrist when it is slightly bent. There is one on the palm side and one on the back, and they are starting lines for measuring arm points.
- ulnar artery
- The artery running deep along the little-finger side of the forearm into the palm. A faint pulse can be felt at the little-finger side of the wrist, beside the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.
- ulnar nerve
- The nerve running down the inner arm to the little-finger side. It passes through a bony groove at the back of the inner elbow; bump it and you feel a jolt down to the little finger (the 'funny bone').
3Before you press
- The ulnar artery and ulnar nerve run just on the thumb side of this tendon.
- Do not press hard or long where you feel a pulse.
- Ease off if the fingers tingle.
- Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
- Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
- Crushing chest pain, breathlessness or a cold sweat can signal a heart emergency — call emergency services at once; do not try acupressure.
4How has it been used traditionally?
- Classified as the Xi-cleft point of the Heart meridian; the Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing records it simply as 'the cleft of Hand Shaoyin, five fen from the wrist' — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Yinxi?
Front-inner forearm, 0.5 cun above the palm-side wrist crease, on the thumb side of the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon. It is level with the lower edge of the ulnar head.
How do I find Yinxi?
Make a loose fist so the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon stands out. From HT7, go 0.5 cun toward the elbow (one twenty-fourth of the 12-cun span, just above the crease). Press on the thumb side of the tendon.
What should I watch out for?
The ulnar artery and ulnar nerve run just on the thumb side of this tendon. Do not press hard or long where you feel a pulse. Ease off if the fingers tingle. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care. Crushing chest pain, breathlessness or a cold sweat can signal a heart emergency — call emergency services at once; do not try acupressure.
Sources
- Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 84
- Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 14
- Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary (Korean Medical Association terms)
- Xi-cleft source: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3 (Wikisource edition)
- Classification and 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.