OBJECTIVETo explore the anatomical structures, and depth and direction of needling at Jingming (BL 1), so as to provide anatomical basis for its clinical application.

METHODSForty-eight adult orbital specimens were observed by dissection.

RESULTSWhen a needle was vertically inserted into Jingming (BL 1), the needle tip will past through the skin, subcutaneous tissue, medial palpebral ligament, medialis rectus and orbital adipose body. Above the body of the needle, there are ophthalmic artery, anterior ethmoidal artery and nasociliary nerve. The average distance between the skin at the punctured point and the anterior ethmoidal artery is (18.25 +/- 4.45) mm, with an angle of (12.5 +/- 5.5) degrees, and the average distance between the skin at the punctured point and the optic nerve tunnel frontal point is (43.37 +/- 7.84) mm.

CONCLUSIONTo avoid bleeding caused by injuring the anterior ethmoidal artery, acupuncture at Jingming (BL 1) should avoid deeply inserting needled back-upwards and upwards, and the needling depth should not exceed 30.36 mm to avoid injury of the optic nerve tunnel frontal point.