Change of Safe Needling Depth at Acupoint GB21 according to Posture and Breathing
Table 4
A literature survey of the depth at GB21.
Author(s) and year
Sample size
Measuring tool
Parameter
Result of GB21 depth (mean ± SD)
(male/female)
Zhenjiujiayijing. 256
—
—
—
12.0 mm (5 )
Yixuerumen. 1220
—
—
—
18.0 mm (6 )
Zhang et al. 2002
57 (24/33)
Cadaver
Sex
(Dangerous needling depth) 55.96 mm
(Safe needling depth) 39.17 mm
Cui et al. 2004
20 (17/3)
Cadaver
Sex
(Lung) mm
(Trapezius) mm
Chen et al. 2006
46 (30/16)
Cadaver
(Dangerous needling depth) 62 mm
(Safe needling depth) 41 mm
Chou et al. 2011
394 (198/196)
MRI
Sex, age, BMI, BW, height
(Underweight) 37 mm, (ideal BW) 51 mm
(Overweight) 61 mm, (obesity) 70 mm
Lee 2015
6 (5/1)
Ultrasound
Sex, BMI, BW
(Lung) 20~34 mm
Ma et al. 2016
319 (205/114)
CT
Sex, age, BMI, BW
(Boy) mm
(Girl) mm
Our study
52 (24/28)
Ultrasound
Gender, BMI, SP, RES
(Pleural membrane)
StP mm
PPA mm
PPB mm
: traditional Chinese unit of measurement. In the case of length, 1 fen is considered equivalent to 2.4 mm in Wei nation (魏) AD 200, and 3.11 mm in Ming nation (明) AD 1500. BMI: body mass index; BW: body weight; SP: subject’s position; RES: respiration.
