Large Intestine MeridianLI17

Tianding 天鼎

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Side of the front of the neck, level with the cricoid cartilage, just behind the back edge of the sternocleidomastoid.

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

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

Tianding — 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.

Tianding — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Sternocleidomastoid

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

On this page

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

1Where is Tianding?

Side of the front of the neck, level with the cricoid cartilage, just behind the back edge of the sternocleidomastoid.

It is directly below LI18 (Futu).

Beneath the point

Sternocleidomastoid

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid at the level of the front of the cricoid cartilage (same height as ST10) — 29.2 mm below Futu (LI18); in this model the upper border of the thyroid cartilage is 28.9 mm above the cricoid.

2How do I find it on my body?

Turn the head slightly away so the sternocleidomastoid stands out.
Find LI18 first.
Move down to the level of the cricoid cartilage, the firm ring just below the thyroid cartilage.
Press just behind the back edge of the muscle at that level.

📖 Words explained

cricoid cartilage: The ring-shaped cartilage just below the thyroid cartilage. You can feel it as a small, firm ring about one finger-joint below the Adam's apple, and the windpipe continues below it.
thyroid cartilage: The shield-shaped cartilage at the front of the neck. In adult men it sticks out as the Adam's apple (laryngeal prominence), and the vocal cords lie inside it.
carotid artery: The general name for the neck arteries that send blood to the head and brain: the common carotid and its branches, the internal and external carotids.
sternocleidomastoid: The thick muscle slanting across the side of the neck. It runs from the mastoid process behind the ear down to the breastbone and collarbone, and stands out as a thick cord when you turn your head to the other side.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

The side of the neck lies over the carotid artery.
Press gently and briefly, and never on both sides at once.
Do not press here if you are elderly, have fainted before or have carotid artery disease.
Stop at once if you feel dizzy, faint or short of breath.
Avoid broken, bruised or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level.
Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

4How has it been used traditionally?

Traditionally pressed for the front of the neck.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Tianding?

Side of the front of the neck, level with the cricoid cartilage, just behind the back edge of the sternocleidomastoid. It is directly below LI18 (Futu).

How do I find Tianding?

Turn the head slightly away so the sternocleidomastoid stands out. Find LI18 first. Move down to the level of the cricoid cartilage, the firm ring just below the thyroid cartilage. Press just behind the back edge of the muscle at that level.

What should I watch out for?

The side of the neck lies over the carotid artery. Press gently and briefly, and never on both sides at once. Do not press here if you are elderly, have fainted before or have carotid artery disease. Stop at once if you feel dizzy, faint or short of breath. Avoid broken, bruised or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousJugu · LI16 Next →Futu · LI18

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 42
Korean anatomical terms: KMCRIC standard acupoint database · KMLE medical dictionary
Classification cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
Caution: carotid sinus anatomy (TeachMeAnatomy) and clinical guidance (FPnotebook)

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.