Triple Energizer MeridianTE6

Zhigou 支溝

For reference only · not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment

Short answer

Back of the forearm, 3 cun above the back wrist crease, midway across the gap between the radius and the ulna.

Jing-river point (Fire)

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

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

Zhigou — 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.

Zhigou — ③ Under the skin — **③ Under the skin**
Radius · Ulna · Posterior interosseous artery

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

On this page

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

1Where is Zhigou?

Back of the forearm, 3 cun above the back wrist crease, midway across the gap between the radius and the ulna.

It is level with TE7.

Beneath the point

Radius · Ulna · Posterior interosseous artery

Our 3D measurement · In our 3D model: 3 cun (64.5 mm; 1 forearm cun = 21.49 mm) above the wrist crease, on the back skin midway between the radius and ulna.

2How do I find it on my body?

Palm down, take the back wrist crease (the level of TE4) as the start line.
Counting wrist crease to elbow as 12 cun, go 3 cun up (one quarter) — 1 cun above TE5.
Press into the hollow between the radius and the ulna.

What is a “cun”?

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.

📖 Words explained

posterior interosseous artery: A thin artery running down the back of the forearm between the radius and ulna. It supplies the muscles on the back of the forearm.
wrist crease: The horizontal crease that forms at the wrist when it is slightly bent. There is one on the palm side and one on the back, and they are starting lines for measuring arm points.

3Before you press

⚠ Do not press when

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?

Classified as the Jing-river (Fire) point of the Triple Energizer meridian — a historical classification, not a claim of effect.
The name means 'branching ditch'; zhi can also be read as 'limb' (肢).

From traditional texts — not a claim of effect.

5Classical text

Donguibogam (Heo Jun, 1613), Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Zhigou"

腕後三寸兩骨之間陷中陽池後三寸《銅人》
在腕後臂外三寸《資生》
手少陽脈之所行爲經 …《銅人》

①3 cun behind the wrist, in the hollow between the two bones, 3 cun behind Yangchi (TE4). Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing
②Behind the wrist, 3 cun up the outer forearm. Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing
③Where the Hand Shaoyang channel moves along, which makes it the Jing-river point. Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing

Source tags as given in the Donguibogam: Tongren = Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing (1026), Zisheng = Zhenjiu Zisheng Jing.
"…" marks the needling depth and moxa count, left out because they are for licensed practitioners.

Original text as written · translation is ours.

?FAQ

Where exactly is Zhigou?

Back of the forearm, 3 cun above the back wrist crease, midway across the gap between the radius and the ulna. It is level with TE7.

How do I find Zhigou?

Palm down, take the back wrist crease (the level of TE4) as the start line. Counting wrist crease to elbow as 12 cun, go 3 cun up (one quarter) — 1 cun above TE5. Press into the hollow between the radius and the ulna.

What should I watch out for?

Avoid broken or swollen skin and press only to a comfortable level. Acupressure is not a substitute for medical care.

← PreviousWaiguan · TE5 Next →Huizong · TE7

Sources

Location: WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region (2008), p. 160
Standard comparison: Chinese national standard GB/T 12346-2021 (Nomenclature and location of meridian points), p. 23
Korean anatomical terms: KMLE medical dictionary (Korean Medical Association terms)
Classification source: Lingshu ch. 2 (Ben Shu) for the five transport points; Nanjing ch. 64 for the phases
Traditional use: Hyeoljari Seodang (Bookdramang, 2015; Korean), ch. 10 "Zhigou" and appendix (Yixue Rumen indications)
Classical text: Donguibogam, Acupuncture and Moxibustion, "Zhigou" — Wikisource public edition
Indications: Yixue Rumen vol. 1 (Wikisource)
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.