[Hypothesis of "sinew-meridian system"].

The author provides the hypothesis on the "sinew-meridian system" in terms of the physiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of meridians and sinew-meridians. Meridians are nourished with blood and sinew-meridians are softened with yang qi . Meridians are circulated in linear form and sinew-meridians are distributed in centripetal state. Meridians are communicated externally and internally and sinew-meridians are connected with tendons and bones. Meridians pertain to zangfu organs and sinew-meridians stabilize zangfu organs. Meridians nourish five sensory organs and sinew-meridians moisten nine orifices. Meridians are characterized as nourishment and sinew-meridians as solidity. Meridians emphasize the conditions of either deficiency or excess, and sinew-meridians as either cold or heat. The meridian disorder is located deeply and of complex and sinew-meridian's is located superficially and of simplicity. The meridian disorder is difficult to treat and with poor therapeutic effect and the sinew-meridian disorder is easy to treat and with rapid therapeutic effect. The "sinew-meridian system" composes of meridian-collateral system and tendon-skin system, in which the meridian-collateral system includes the twelve meridians, eight extra meridians and fifteen collaterals, being relevant with nutrition and blood, acting on transporting qi , blood and message; the tendon-skin system includes twelve sinew-meridians and twelve meridians of cutaneous regions, being relevant with defensive qi , acting on governing the motor function and protecting the body.