Digital Anatomic Study On The Relationship Between Meridians & Acupuncture Points And Fascia Converging Areas

ObjectiveTo explore the anatomical evidence for the relationship between meridians & acupuncture points and fascia converging areas with auto-marked and 3D-Rebuilding techniques,combining computerized mathematics,digital anatomy,applied anatomy and Radiology.This series of study were set to give reference of the research on acupoint essence and acupuncture mechanism and the clinical application of acupoints in fascia converging areas.Methods1st.Computerized automark of fascia converging areas and rebuilding of fascia lines:At first,this method extracted the muscles and eliminated noise;Then it detected the edges and found a convex hull of the muscles edge;After such procedures,the interstitial connective tissue points were marked in the cross section images from the digital dataset of VCH-M1(Virtual Chinese Human-Male1);Finally,the auto-marked images were reconstructed with 3D-DOCTOR.2^nd.Contrast study on the line course of fascia meridians made by three dimensional reconstruction and classical meridians in virtual human body:The reticular frame of whole body's fascia and connection tissue had been set up by means of three dimensional reconstruction based on the Digital Human Technology at first,then strings of beads like lines were reconstructed by mark and three dimensional reconstruction of interstitial connective tissue in this fascia network frame in limbs and trunk.Contrast study on the line course of reconstructed fascia meridians and classical meridians in Digitized Virtual Human were made through computerized image processing software and mathematical methods.3^rd.Applied anatomic study on the acupuncture points in fascia converging areas:5 embalmed cadavers(2 male,3 female) and pieces of fragments were layered anatomized and observed.Nerves,vessels,fascia and muscles were focused especially in each divisional part of fascia converging areas(division accord to the distribution characteristics of fascias and acupoints) for being convinced of containing most of acupoints.Acupoints region were anatomized and observed after being located by two experienced acupuncturist.4^th.Radiology study on the acupuncture points in fascia converging areas:At first,Acupoints on the upper and lower limbs of one male cadaver were located and acupunctured by two experienced acupuncturist with needles(HUATUO band,made in Suzhou,China) according to the reference textbook.Then these needle-marked limbs were scanned in the SIEMENS SENSATION 16 CT machine and three dimensioned constructed.Finally,the outputs data were transformed from DICOM to JPEG format and analyzed to find out evidence of the correlation between acupoints and fascia converging areas. Results1st.Computerized automark of fascia converging areas and rebuilding of fascia lines:In the study,We devised a program which extracted the muscles and eliminated noise on the VCH-M1 at first;Then it detected the edges and found a convex hull of the muscles edge;After such procedures,the interstitial connective tissue points were marked in the cross section images from the digital dataset of VCH-M1;Finally,the auto-marked images were reconstructed with 3D-DOCTOR.The reconstructed meridians auto-marked with computer procedures tallied basically with the meridians and collaterals recorded in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) illustrative graphics.2^nd.Contrast study on the line course of fascia meridians made by three dimensional reconstruction and classical meridians in virtual human body:The images of the fascias from the digitized virtual Chinese female dataset were separated from those of other tissues for three-dimensional reconstruction of the connective tissue network model of human body.After separation and three-dimensional reconstruction,we constructed the fascia network model on the coronal plane.The fascias were labeled on the transverse sections of the trunk so as to show their distribution.The images show that the connective tissue is distributed extensively over various parts of the human body and form a complete connective tissue framework.All of the human organs were coated with the fascia tissues;also extend into the organs to form partitions within the organs(with the exception of the central nerve system).Six main meridians on the limbs and trunk were selected to contrast with the rebuilding fascia lines,and measurement data were recorded and analyzed with SPSS 10.0 statistic's software which output a multiple line chart.The rebuilding fascia line courses went basically along those of the meridians in the acupuncture therapy recorded in the TCM ancient scripts. 3^rd.Applied anatomic study on the acupuncture points in fascia converging areas:The anatomic study show that most of acupoints distributed in fascia converging areas or fascia like connective tissues.The effect of stimulating these kinds of acupoints may owe to the tensility change of fascia during manipulation in kinetic view.Abundant vessels and nerves endings and such like active tissues in the fascia may give biological basement in this procedure.We also found that acupoints embedded in fascia converging areas had different anatomic characteristics at different part of the body,which corresponding with their therapeutic function respectively.4^th.Radiology study on the acupuncture points in fascia converging areas:The acupoints on limbs were acupunctured and marked with needles according to description on the acupuncture textbook.The CT scan and rebuilding results showed that most of the acupoints on the 12 meridians located in fascia converging areas such as interstitial connective tissues and periosteum.This result tallied with the anatomic outcome.The anatomic essence of meridians and acupuncture points in TCM may exist in the fascia like connective tissues coated the body.ConclusionClose anatomic relationship exists in fascia converging areas and meridians and acupuncture points.The anatomy research found out that most of acupoints distributed in fascia converging areas.The mechanism of acupuncture therapy may be caused by tensility change and displacement of the fascia tissues caused by needle movement during manipulation.Acupoints embedded in fascia converging areas have different anatomic characteristics at different part of the body which maybe the reason of different points have different manipulation ways and effects.The CT scan and 3D-rebuilding results showed that most of the acupoints on the 12 meridians located in fascia converging areas such as interstitial connective tissues and periosteum,which according with the anatomic outcome.The method with computer procedures auto-marked techniques avoided man-made error to a certainty degree in the process of recognizing and rebuilding of fascia converging areas.The reconstructed line course of fascia converging areas went basically along those of the meridians in the acupuncture therapy recorded in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ancient scripts.Close anatomic relationship exists in fascia and meridians and collaterals.The results validated the views on acupuncture points in the FASCIAOLOGY authorized by professor Yuan from anatomy and radiology.It's necessary to develop the research of fasciaology which may interpret TCM and acupuncture theory.In the FASCIAOLOGY theory which authorized by Professor Yuan Lin,fascia originally evolved from the mesenchyme of the metazoan phyla and then from extracellular fluid(ECF) in the multicellular organism in the process of phylogenic evolution.In light of biological phylogeny and embryo development,he put forward a hypothesis that an Self-supervision and surveillance system may exist in the human body,which differs essentially from the nine established functional systems. Functionally,the fascia framework not only provides a soft support of the body but also maintains the systemic balance by regulating the neural reflexes,neuroendocrine activity,neuroimmunity,and by repairing the cell and tissue injuries.The term FASCIAOLOGYwas coined to denote the bulk of research on this 10^th system,where biologically valid explanations for the fundamental mechanisms of acupuncture therapy may be found.In the fascial network,sensitive nerve endings,active cells and lymphatic vessels abounded in the sites with thick connective tissue,and acupoints were mainly located where thick connective tissues were present too.Needling at these sites may induce definite biological effects.The Self-supervision and surveillance system may be the anatomical basis for various acupuncture therapies. This hypothesis may provide a brand new insight into further research on the biomedical basis of acupuncture and TCM.