Large Intestine MeridianLI5

Yangxi 陽谿

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Back-and-thumb side of the wrist, at the thumb end of the back wrist crease.

Jing-river point (Fire)

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

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

Yangxi — 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.

Yangxi — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Radius · Scaphoid · Extensor pollicis longus · Extensor pollicis brevis

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

On this page

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

1Where is Yangxi?

Back-and-thumb side of the wrist, at the thumb end of the back wrist crease.

It lies in the anatomical snuffbox, the hollow between the extensor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons, just beyond the radial styloid process.

Beneath the point

Radius · Scaphoid · Extensor pollicis longus · Extensor pollicis brevis

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: Yangxi to Quchi (LI11) measures 261.4 mm = 12 forearm cun, so 1 cun = 21.8 mm. This ruler places LI6–LI10.

2How do I find it on my body?

Spread your thumb wide and bend it back.
Find the two tendons that stand out at the thumb side of the wrist: extensor pollicis longus on the back-of-hand side, extensor pollicis brevis on the palm side.
At the wrist end of the hollow between them, feel the hard radial styloid process.
Press the deepest spot just beyond that bone.

📖 Words explained

anatomical snuffbox: The small hollow on the thumb side of the wrist when the thumb is pulled back hard, bordered in front by the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons and behind by the extensor pollicis longus tendon. The scaphoid and the radial pulse can be felt at its floor, and the name comes from people once placing snuff here.
radial styloid process: The bony tip sticking out on the thumb side of the wrist, the lower end of the radius, right beside the pulse spot on the thumb side.
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.
radial artery: The artery running down the thumb side of the forearm to the wrist. It is the pulse you feel when you place fingers on the thumb side of the wrist crease.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

The radial artery runs through this hollow.
If you feel a pulse, do not press hard or for long.
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?

Classified as the Jing-river (Fire) point of the channel. Classical theory describes rubbing along the direction of channel flow as 'tonifying' and against it as 'reducing'.
The name joins yang (the back of the hand) and xi (ravine): the gully between two tendons. An alternative name is Zhongkui (中魁).

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

5Classical text

Donguibogam (Heo Jun, 1613), Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Yangxi"

一名中魁在手腕中上側兩筋間陷者中手陽明脈之所行爲經 …《銅人》

① Also called Zhongkui. At the middle of the wrist on its upper side, in the hollow between two tendons. Where the Hand Yangming channel passes, which makes it the Jing-river point (Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing).

Source tag as given in the Donguibogam: Tongren = Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing.
The Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing (vol.
3) writes 'between the two sides' where the Donguibogam has 'between two tendons'.
Lingshu ch.
2 reads 'Yangxi, in the hollow between two tendons … the Jing-river point'.
"…" marks the needling depth and moxa count, left out because they are for licensed practitioners.
No glyphs needed correcting in this entry.

Original text as written · translation is ours.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Yangxi?

Back-and-thumb side of the wrist, at the thumb end of the back wrist crease. It lies in the anatomical snuffbox, the hollow between the extensor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons, just beyond the radial styloid process.

How do I find Yangxi?

Spread your thumb wide and bend it back. Find the two tendons that stand out at the thumb side of the wrist: extensor pollicis longus on the back-of-hand side, extensor pollicis brevis on the palm side. At the wrist end of the hollow between them, feel the hard radial styloid process. Press the deepest spot just beyond that bone.

What should I watch out for?

The radial artery runs through this hollow. If you feel a pulse, do not press hard or for long. Avoid broken, bruised or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousHegu · LI4 Next →Pianli · LI6

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 36
Korean anatomical terms: KMCRIC standard acupoint database · KMLE medical dictionary
Traditional use: Hyeoljari Seodang (Bookdramang, 2015; Korean), ch. 2 "Yangxi" and appendix (Yixue Rumen indications)
Classical text: Donguibogam, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Yangxi" — Wikisource public edition
Indications: Yixue Rumen vol. 1 (Wikisource)
Anatomy: TeachMeAnatomy — The Anatomical Snuffbox
Classification source: Lingshu ch. 2 (Ben Shu) for the five transport points; Nanjing ch. 64 for the phases

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.