Small Intestine MeridianSI16

Tianchuang 天窗

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Front region of the neck, just behind the sternocleidomastoid, level with the top edge of the thyroid cartilage.

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

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

Tianchuang — 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.

Tianchuang — ② Up close — **② Up close**

Tianchuang — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Sternocleidomastoid · Thyroid cartilage

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

On this page

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

1Where is Tianchuang?

Front region of the neck, just behind the sternocleidomastoid, level with the top edge of the thyroid cartilage.

ST9 and LI18 lie on the same level line.

Beneath the point

Sternocleidomastoid · Thyroid cartilage

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: at the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage (same line as ST9 and LI18), on the skin at the back edge of the sternocleidomastoid.

2How do I find it on my body?

Turn the head to the other side against your hand so the sternocleidomastoid stands out.
Draw a level line at the top edge of the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple).
Press where it meets the back edge of the muscle.

Check · on the same line, ST9 sits at the front edge and LI18 in the middle.

📖 Words explained

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.
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

Large blood vessels and nerves run through the side of the neck.
Press gently and briefly.
Never press both sides at once.
Stop at once if you feel dizzy or faint.
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 Lingshu names Tianchuang as the third of the pulsing sites listed along the neck, belonging to Hand Taiyang — a historical description, not a claim of effect.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Tianchuang?

Front region of the neck, just behind the sternocleidomastoid, level with the top edge of the thyroid cartilage. ST9 and LI18 lie on the same level line.

How do I find Tianchuang?

Turn the head to the other side against your hand so the sternocleidomastoid stands out. Draw a level line at the top edge of the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple). Press where it meets the back edge of the muscle. on the same line, ST9 sits at the front edge and LI18 in the middle.

What should I watch out for?

Large blood vessels and nerves run through the side of the neck. Press gently and briefly. Never press both sides at once. Stop at once if you feel dizzy or faint. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousJianzhongshu · SI15 Next →Tianrong · SI17

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 95
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 16
Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary (Korean Medical Association terms)
Classical source: Lingshu ch. 2 (Ben Shu), list of pulsing sites on the neck and armpit
Classification and traditional-use cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)

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.