Yang Linking Vessel
A lateral linking vessel that connects the yang meridians and guards the exterior.
Pathway
The Yang Linking Vessel (陽維脈, Yangwei Mai) begins near the lateral heel, ascends the lateral leg and hip, crosses the side of the body and shoulder, and runs up the neck and behind the ear to the forehead.
Its role is to "link" the yang meridians, integrating the channels that run on the outer and lateral surfaces of the body.
Role in TCM theory
- Linking the yang — The vessel is said to connect the yang meridians into a coordinated surface, especially the Bladder, Gallbladder, Triple Burner, and Small Intestine channels.
- The exterior — Classical texts associate it with the body's response to cold and wind and with alternating chills and fever.
- Side of the head and body — Its route explains its traditional use for one-sided head and neck discomfort.
- Paired with the Girdle Vessel — Its confluent point, TB-5, is paired with GB-41 on the Girdle Vessel.
Key points associated with the vessel
| Point | Name | Location | Traditional use |
|---|---|---|---|
| TB-5 | Waiguan (外關) | Two cun above the dorsal wrist crease, between the radius and ulna | The confluent point of the Yang Linking Vessel; traditionally used for the side of the head, neck, and exterior |
| GB-41 | Zulinqi (足臨泣) | On the dorsum of the foot, proximal to the fourth metatarsophalangeal joint | The paired point on the Girdle Vessel; classically used for the side of the head and the waist |
| GB-20 | Fengchi (風池) | In the depression below the occiput, between the neck muscles | A major point for wind and for head, neck, and eye discomfort |
Point locations follow the WHO Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature (1991). The extraordinary vessels borrow points from the primary meridians; the table lists the points most closely associated with this vessel in standard references.
Confluent point
TB-5 Waiguan is the confluent point of the Yang Linking Vessel; GB-41 Zulinqi is its paired point on the Girdle Vessel. In clinical practice, the confluent point is the main point used when a practitioner wants to influence this vessel through acupressure or needling.
How this is viewed today
TB-5 and GB-41 are frequently used together in trials for headache, neck pain, and temporomandibular symptoms. Review evidence is limited. Avoid strong pressure on the neck and around the ear; seek medical care for sudden severe headache.
Sources & further reading
- Huangdi Neijing (黃帝內經), c. 2nd century BCE.
- Nanjing (難經), c. 1st–2nd century CE.
- World Health Organization, Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature, 2nd ed., 1991.
- Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Acupuncture: What You Need To Know.
Related: Triple Burner meridian · Gallbladder meridian · Extraordinary vessels hub · acupoint library