In order to determine acupuncture point locations, basic points are used as indicators and a standard local scale expressed. In the classic text SENKINPO the individual finger can is described as an easy method for determining a standard local scale. To determine whether the can explained in the original text where 7 SHAKU 5 CUN is used as a standard for the body height, and the individual finger can measurements taken on the middle fingers and thumb correspond, we measured the height and bilateral middle finger and thumb lengths of a mixed group of 242 male and female subjects. Following are our results:
1. On male and female adults both left and right middle finger can measurements corresponded well. Results with school age children were similar however correlation was not as favorable as with adults.
2. Correlation with thumb can measurements was not good.
3. Classics state that for males the left hand is to be used, for females the right hand. In the adult group which showed high correlation these were compared however no significant differences between sexes was proven.
4. We compared the adult middle finger can with the body height however the local scale which varies individually also varles with the length of various parts of the body. It was shown however to be useful in point localization in precise short areas.