Shuitu 水突
Level with the cricoid cartilage, just in front of the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid.
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Sternocleidomastoid muscle · Sternohyoid muscle · Cricoid cartilage
Rendered straight from the 3D model at the computed location. The glowing ring marks Shuitu.
On this page
1Where is Shuitu?
Level with the cricoid cartilage, just in front of the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid.
It lies between ST9 and ST11.
It is at the front of the neck.
Sternocleidomastoid muscle · Sternohyoid muscle · Cricoid cartilage
2How do I find it on my body?
- Below the thyroid cartilage, find the ring-shaped cricoid cartilage.
- Turn the head away against slight resistance to raise the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid.
- At the cricoid level, press just in front of that edge.
- 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.
- 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
- Large blood vessels and the windpipe lie close by at the front of the neck.
- Do not press hard or dig in.
- Stop at once if breathing feels tight or you feel dizzy.
- 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 Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing places it in front of the large neck muscle, below Renying (ST9) and above Qishe (ST11).
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Shuitu?
Level with the cricoid cartilage, just in front of the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid. It lies between ST9 and ST11. It is at the front of the neck.
How do I find Shuitu?
Below the thyroid cartilage, find the ring-shaped cricoid cartilage. Turn the head away against slight resistance to raise the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid. At the cricoid level, press just in front of that edge. it is roughly halfway between ST9 and ST11.
What should I watch out for?
Large blood vessels and the windpipe lie close by at the front of the neck. Do not press hard or dig in. Stop at once if breathing feels tight or you feel dizzy. 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. 50
- 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 source: Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3 (Siku Quanshu edition)
- Classification 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.