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Abbreviation: YIL, YAL. Two pathways of the channel and network vessel system that together form one of the eight extraordinary vessels.

Yīn and yáng linking (yīn yáng wéi) vessels

Functions

The yīn linking vessels connects and regulates the major yīn channels. The yáng linking vessel connects and regulates the major yáng channels.

Pathways

Overview

• Yīn linking (wéi) vessel: KI-9 → medial aspect of leg → abdomen → chest → throat.
• Yáng linking (wéi) vessel: Lateral malleolus (BL-63) → path of GB → posterolateral face of trunk → shoulder → head → forehead → doubles back to GV-16 on back of head.

Description

The yīn linking (wéi) vessel starts in the region of the lower leg where the three yīn channels of the foot intersect, at KI-9 (zhú bīn, Guest House) on the foot lesser yīn (shào yīn) kidney channel. It runs up the medial aspect of the leg, and up the abdomen and across the chest to the throat, where it meets the controlling vessel. Along its course, it intersects the foot greater yīn (tài yīn) spleen channel at SP-12 (chōng mén, Surging Gate), SP-13 (府舍 fǔ shè, Bowel Abode), SP-15 (dà héng, Great Horizontal), SP-16 (fù āi, Abdominal Lament). It intersects the foot reverting yīn (jué yīn) liver channel at LR-14 (期门 qī mén, Cycle Gate), and the controlling vessel at CV-22 (天突 tiān tú, Celestial Chimney) and CV-23 (廉泉 lián quán, Ridge Spring).

The yáng (wéi) linking vessel starts below the lateral malleolus at the point BL-63 (jīn mén, Metal Gate) of the foot greater yáng (tài yáng) bladder channel and ascends the leg along the path of the foot lesser yáng (shào yáng) gallbladder (shào yáng) channel. It proceeds up the posterolateral aspect of the trunk, running past the axilla and behind the shoulder, ascends the neck, and crosses behind the ear to the forehead. After doubling back over the top of the head, it ends at GV-16 (fēng fǔ, Wind House).

Acupoints

The yīn and yáng linking (wéi) vessels have no points of their own but share points with several channels.

Indications

Yīn linking (wéi) vessel: Heart pain, pain in the center of the chest, emotional disorders, such as timidity and fear, apprehension, delirious speech, nightmares, and emotional depression.

Yáng linking (wéi) vessel: Alternating heat effusion and chills, dizziness, joint pain and sinew pain, and hemilateral headache.

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