Yingchuang 膺窓
4 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 · External intercostal muscles · Fourth rib
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On this page
1Where is Yingchuang?
4 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 · External intercostal muscles · Fourth rib
2How do I find it on my body?
- Find the second rib at the level of the sternal angle.
- Move down one more rib to the third intercostal space.
- Follow that gap out to the 4 B-cun line.
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.
- external intercostal muscles
- The outer layer of thin muscles filling the gaps between the ribs. They help lift the ribs when you breathe in.
- 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 ying (breast, chest) and chuang (window): a window of the chest.
From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.
?FAQ
Where exactly is Yingchuang?
4 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 Yingchuang?
Find the second rib at the level of the sternal angle. Move down one more rib to the third intercostal space. Follow that gap out to the 4 B-cun line. in men, it is the space just above the nipple.
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. 53
- 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.