Stomach MeridianST9

Renying 人迎

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Level with the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, just in front of the sternocleidomastoid.

Four Seas — transport point of the Sea of Qi

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

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

Renying — 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.

Renying — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Sternocleidomastoid muscle · Common carotid artery · Thyroid cartilage · Thyrohyoid muscle

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

On this page

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

1Where is Renying?

Level with the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, just in front of the sternocleidomastoid.

The common carotid artery lies beneath it.

It is at the front of the neck.

Beneath the point

Sternocleidomastoid muscle · Common carotid artery · Thyroid cartilage · Thyrohyoid muscle

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: skin just in front (3 mm) of the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid, level with the top of the thyroid cartilage.

2How do I find it on my body?

Near the Adam's apple, find the upper edge of the thyroid cartilage.
Turn the head away against a little resistance. The sternocleidomastoid stands out; find its front edge.
At the level of the cartilage's upper edge, press just in front of the muscle.

Check · you can feel the pulse.

📖 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.
common carotid artery: The thick artery running up each side of the neck to the head; touch lightly just in front of sternocleidomastoid at the level of the thyroid cartilage and you feel a strong pulse. Never press both sides at once.
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

This spot lies over the common carotid artery.
Do not press hard or for long.
Never press both sides at once.
The carotid sinus, which senses blood pressure, is close by.
Do not press here if you are elderly, have fainted before or have carotid artery disease.
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 (ch. 33) names it a transport point of the Sea of Qi, and ch. 2 names it the first pulsing point beside the Conception vessel on the neck — historical classifications, not claims of effect.
WHO notes that ST9, LI18 and SI16 lie at one level, told apart by their relation to the sternocleidomastoid.

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Renying?

Level with the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, just in front of the sternocleidomastoid. The common carotid artery lies beneath it. It is at the front of the neck.

How do I find Renying?

Near the Adam's apple, find the upper edge of the thyroid cartilage. Turn the head away against a little resistance. The sternocleidomastoid stands out; find its front edge. At the level of the cartilage's upper edge, press just in front of the muscle. you can feel the pulse.

What should I watch out for?

This spot lies over the common carotid artery. Do not press hard or for long. Never press both sides at once. The carotid sinus, which senses blood pressure, is close by. Do not press here if you are elderly, have fainted before or have carotid artery disease. 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.

← PreviousTouwei · ST8 Next →Shuitu · ST10

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)
Four Seas: Lingshu ch. 33 (Hai Lun)
Neck pulse points: Lingshu ch. 2 (Ben Shu)
Caution: carotid sinus anatomy (TeachMeAnatomy) · Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing vol. 3, entry on Renying
Classification 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.