Xiongxiang 胸鄕
6 B-cun out from the front midline, in the gap below the third rib (third intercostal space).
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Sternocostal head of pectoralis major muscle
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Xiongxiang.
On this page
1Where is Xiongxiang?
6 B-cun out from the front midline, in the gap below the third rib (third intercostal space).
It is on the front chest.
Sternocostal head of pectoralis major muscle
2How do I find it on my body?
- The rib beside the sternal angle is the second rib; count down from it to the third intercostal space.
- Take the 6 B-cun line, 2 B-cun outside the nipple line (4 B-cun).
- Follow the rib gap out to that line and press.
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.
- sternocostal head of pectoralis major
- The large middle part of pectoralis major, starting from the breastbone and upper rib cartilages. It pulls the arm in toward the body.
- intercostal space
- The gap between two ribs, felt with a fingertip as a slight groove between bone and bone. It is named after the rib above it (the gap below the first rib is the first intercostal space).
- sternal angle
- The slight horizontal ridge where the manubrium meets the body of the breastbone; slide a finger down from the notch at the base of the neck and it catches on it. The second rib attaches right beside it, so it is the starting mark for counting ribs.
- chest wall
- The wall around the chest organs, made of skin, muscle, ribs and the muscles between them. In places it is thinner than you might think.
3Before you press
- The pleura and lung lie just beneath the chest wall here.
- Do not jab with pointed tools or dig in deeply.
- Sudden breathlessness or chest pain is an emergency — call emergency services; do not try acupressure.
- 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 joins xiong (chest) and xiang (village).
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Xiongxiang?
6 B-cun out from the front midline, in the gap below the third rib (third intercostal space). It is on the front chest.
How do I find Xiongxiang?
The rib beside the sternal angle is the second rib; count down from it to the third intercostal space. Take the 6 B-cun line, 2 B-cun outside the nipple line (4 B-cun). Follow the rib gap out to that line and press. ST16 and KI24 sit further in along the same space, which curves rather than running straight across.
What should I watch out for?
The pleura and lung lie just beneath the chest wall here. Do not jab with pointed tools or dig in deeply. Sudden breathlessness or chest pain is an emergency — call emergency services; do not try acupressure. Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.
Sources
- Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 79
- Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points)
- Korean anatomical terms and locating tips: KMCRIC Standard Acupoint DB (Korea)
- Classification cross-check: AcuAtlas dataset (CC BY 4.0)
- Safety: Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand, Safety in Clinical Practice Guidance (2023)
- 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.