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Alternate names: 足少阴所入 zú shào yīn suǒ rù,

Channel: KI, foot lesser yīn (shào yīn) kidney channel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the posterior aspect of the knee, at the medial end of the popliteal crease, between the tendons of the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles.

Classical location: Below the knee, behind the inner leg bone, below the large sinew and above the small sinew. From The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸甲乙经 zhēn jiǔ jiǎ yǐ jīng)

Local anatomy: The medial superior genicular artery and vein. The medial femoral cutaneous nerve.

Action: Boosts the kidney and revives yáng; regulates the anterior yīn.

Modern indications: Impotence; mounting qì (shàn qì, inguinal hernia); flooding and spotting; inhibited urination; aching pain in the knee and back of the knees (popliteal fossa).

Classical indications: Difficult urination; urinary urgency; extended tongue and drooling; mounting (shàn) pain; mania and withdrawal; abdominal distension.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.4‒1.0 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 3 cones; pole 3‒5 min.

Point groups: Uniting (hé) (water) point.

Point name meaning:

• 阴 yīn: yīn, the complement of yáng
• 谷 gǔ: valley

KI-10 is located between two tendons on the yīn (inner) side of the knee. The depression between the tendons can be seen to resemble a valley; hence the name. The character 阴 (yīn) may furthermore be taken as a reference to the shao yīn kidney channel. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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