The impact factors were explored to determine the horizontal positional relationship between the umbilicus and the 2nd lumbar spinal process in adults and to verify the accuracy of the localization of Shenshu (BL 23) via the umbilicus. The position of the umbilicus and the 2nd lumbar spinal process was measured in 100 participants and the data were analyzed through SPSS 20.0 software. It was found that the umbilicus and the 2nd lumbar process were not positioned horizontally. The positional relationship of these two sites was not apparently correlated with gender, age, body weight, body height, BMI, waistline and discomfort of lumbar region. The umbilicus was commonly and posteriorly projected on the site between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebra. It is explained that the localization of Shenshu (BL23) via the umbilicus is not accurate.
Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Umbilicus ; anatomy & histology ; Young Adult

The theoretical basis, location, belonging of zang-fu, treatment function and indications, applying principle and manipulation of Umbilical Ring acupoints in Zhuang medicine are explained in this paper. According to Zhuang medicine, umbilicus is an epitome of the body and all the zang-fu and organs in the body have corresponding epitomes like a fetus in front-standing position. The umbilicus is not only a micro-diagnosis system, but also a window for illness treatment that could be divided into superficial, middle and deep layer to respectively communicate different zang-fu and organs. The umbilical inner ring and outer ring are collectively called Umbilical Ring acupoints, they could dredge paths, regulate the balance of qi and blood to regulate qi, expel poison, tonify deficiency and remove stasis to treat many types of diseases in the whole body.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Umbilicus ; anatomy & histology

PURPOSE: The varied morphology of the umbilical ring and its surrounding structures, such as the ligamentum teres hepatis, and the median and medial umbilical ligaments, has not been thoroughly investigated. Hence, this study was undertaken to clarify the morphologic variations of these structures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anterior abdominal walls were removed en bloc from 57 adult cadavers and dissected under a surgical microscope. RESULTS: One case of umbilical hernia was observed, and the remaining 56 umbilical rings were classified into 3 types: oval or round in 33 cases (Type A, 59.0%), obliterated or slitted in 12 cases (Type B, 21.4%), and completely covered by a connecting band between the ligamentum teres hepatis and umbilical ligaments in 11 cases (Type C, 19.6%). The median and medial umbilical ligaments were classified into four types based on their interrelationships. The most common type was the median umbilical ligament terminated by joining one or both medial umbilical ligaments (Type II, 41.1%). The ligamentum teres hepatis frequently ended by dividing into several branches in the area cranial to the umbilical ring, some of which crossed the umbilical ring. The umbilical fascia covered the umbilical ring in 50.0% of cases, and the rest either not covering the ring or not existing. CONCLUSION: These results are expected to improve our understanding of the anatomy of the umbilical area, and further improve treatments of the umbilical hernia.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autopsy ; Female ; Hernia, Umbilical/pathology ; Humans ; Ligaments/anatomy & histology/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Umbilicus/*anatomy & histology/pathology