胆、胃、大肠、小肠、三焦、膀胱是谓六腑。肝、心、脾、肺、肾、心包是谓六脏。六脏六腑，是生
十二经。经有手足不同，
阳明大肠，太阳小肠，少阳三焦，是谓手之三阳经。阳明胃，太阳膀胱，少阳胆，是谓足之三阳经。
太阴脾，少阴肾，厥阴肝，是谓足之三阴经。太阴肺，少阴心，厥阴心主，是谓手之三阴经。手之三阳
，自手走头。手阳明自次指出合谷，循臂上廉，上颈，入下齿，
左之右，右之左，上挟鼻孔。手太阳自小指，从手外侧，循臂下廉，上颈，至目内 。手少阳自名指，循
手表，出臂外，上颈至目锐 。三经皆自臂外而走头，阳明在前，太阳在后，少阳在中。足之三阳，自头走
足。足阳明行身之前，自鼻之交 ，循喉咙，入缺盆，下乳，挟脐，循胫外，入大指次指。足太阳行身
之后，自目内 ，上额交巅，下项，挟脊，抵腰，贯臀，入 中，出外踝，至小指。足少阳行身之侧，
自目锐 ，从耳后下颈，入缺盆，下胸，循胁，从膝外廉出外踝，入名指。三经皆自腿外而走，足阳明在前
，太阳在后，少阳在中。足之三阴自足走胸，足太阴行身之前，自大指上内踝，入腹上膈。足少阴，行身
之后，自小指循内踝，贯脊上膈，注胸中。足厥阴行身之侧，自大指上内踝，抵小腹，贯膈布胁肋。三经
皆自腿里而走胸，太阴在前，少阴在后，厥阴在中。手之三阴。自胸走手。手太阴自胸出腋下，循 内前廉，
入寸口，至大指。手少阴自胸出腋下，循 内后廉，抵掌后，至小指。手厥阴自胸出腋下，循 内，入掌中，
至中指。三经皆自臂里而走，手太阴在前，少阴在后，厥阴在中。手三阳之走头，足三阳之走足，皆属
其本腑，而络其所相表里之脏。足三阴之走胸，手三阴之走手，皆属其本脏，而络其所相表里之腑。手阳明
与手太阴为表里，足阳明与足太阴为表里，手太阳与手少阴为表里，足太阴与足少阴为表里，手少阳与手厥
阴为表里，足少阳与足厥阴为表里；六阳六阴，分行于左右手足，是谓二十四经也。
胆、胃、大肠、小肠、三焦、膀胱被称为六腑（指传化水谷的六个脏器）。肝、心、脾、肺、肾、心包被称为六脏（指藏精气神的六个脏器）。由这六脏六腑，衍生出十二经脉。经脉有手经和足经的不同：
手阳明大肠经、手太阳小肠经、手少阳三焦经，被称为手之三阳经。
足阳明胃经、足太阳膀胱经、足少阳胆经，被称为足之三阳经。
足太阴脾经、足少阴肾经、足厥阴肝经，被称为足之三阴经。
手太阴肺经、手少阴心经、手厥阴心包经，被称为手之三阴经。
手之三阳经，从手部走向头部。
手阳明大肠经，自食指端起始，经过合谷穴，沿手臂外侧前缘上行至颈部，进入下齿龈，交叉于面部（左脉向右，右脉向左），上行挟持鼻孔两侧。
手太阳小肠经，自小指端起始，从手外侧上行，沿手臂外侧后缘，上至颈部，到达目内眦。
手少阳三焦经，无名指起始，沿手背，出于手臂外侧，上至颈部，到达目外眦。
这三条经脉都从手臂外侧走向头部，阳明经在前，太阳经在后，少阳经在中间。
足之三阳经，从头部走向足部。
足阳明胃经行走在身体前面，自鼻翼旁起始，循喉咙下行，进入缺盆，向下经过乳房内侧，挟脐两旁，沿胫骨外侧，进入第二趾端。
足太阳膀胱经行走在身体后面，自目内眦起始，上额交会于巅顶，下行项后，挟脊柱两旁，抵腰部，贯穿臀部，入腘窝中，出外踝后方，到达小趾端。
足少阳胆经行走在身体侧面，自目外眦起始，从耳后下行至颈部，进入缺盆，下行胸胁，沿胁肋部，从膝外侧出外踝，进入第四趾端。
这三条经脉都从腿部外侧走向足部，足阳明经在前，太阳经在后，少阳经在中间。
足之三阴经，从足部走向胸部。
足太阴脾经行走在身体前面，自大趾端上行至内踝，进入腹部，上膈肌。
足少阴肾经行走在身体后面，自小趾下方循内踝后方，贯穿脊柱，上膈肌，注入胸中。
足厥阴肝经行走在身体侧面，自大趾端上行至内踝，抵小腹，贯膈肌，散布于胁肋部。
这三条经脉都从腿部内侧走向胸部，太阴经在前，少阴经在后，厥阴经在中间。
手之三阴经，从胸部走向手部。
手太阴肺经自胸部出于腋下，沿臂内侧前缘，入寸口，到达大指端。
手少阴心经自胸部出于腋下，沿臂内侧后缘，抵手掌后，到达小指端。
手厥阴心包经自胸部出于腋下，沿臂内侧，入掌中，到达中指端。
这三条经脉都从手臂内侧走向手部，手太阴经在前，少阴经在后，厥阴经在中间。
手三阳经走向头部，足三阳经走向足部，皆属于其本腑，并络属与其相表里的脏。
足三阴经走向胸部，手三阴经走向手部，皆属于其本脏，并络属与其相表里的腑。
手阳明大肠经与手太阴肺经互为表里，足阳明胃经与足太阴脾经互为表里，手太阳小肠经与手少阴心经互为表里，足太阳膀胱经与足少阴肾经互为表里，手少阳三焦经与手厥阴心包经互为表里，足少阳胆经与足厥阴肝经互为表里；六阳经与六阴经，分别运行于左右手足，这就称为二十四经。
The Gallbladder, Stomach, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Sanjiao (Triple Burner), and Bladder are referred to as the Six Fu Organs (six hollow organs responsible for digestion and excretion). The Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, Kidney, and Pericardium are referred to as the Six Zang Organs (six solid organs responsible for storing essence and spirit). From these six Zang and six Fu organs arise the Twelve Primary Meridians. The meridians differ between the hand and the foot:
The Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, and Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian are called the Three Yang Meridians of the Hand.
The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian are called the Three Yang Meridians of the Foot.
The Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian are called the Three Yin Meridians of the Foot.
The Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, and Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian are called the Three Yin Meridians of the Hand.
The Three Yang Meridians of the Hand travel from the hand to the head.
The Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian starts at the tip of the index finger, passes through Hegu (LI4), ascends along the anterior aspect of the lateral side of the arm to the neck, enters the lower teeth, crosses to the opposite side (left to right, right to left), and ascends to flank both sides of the nostrils.
The Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian starts at the tip of the little finger, travels from the lateral side of the hand, ascends along the posterior aspect of the lateral side of the arm to the neck, and reaches the inner canthus of the eye.
The Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian starts at the tip of the ring finger, travels along the dorsal aspect of the hand, emerges from the lateral side of the arm, ascends to the neck, and reaches the outer canthus of the eye.
All three meridians travel from the lateral aspect of the arm to the head; the Yangming meridian is in front, the Taiyang meridian is at the back, and the Shaoyang meridian is in the middle.
The Three Yang Meridians of the Foot travel from the head to the foot.
The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian runs along the anterior aspect of the body, starting from the intersection near the nose, follows the throat, enters the Clavicular Fossa (Quepen), descends past the breast, flanks the umbilicus, follows the lateral aspect of the tibia, and enters the second toe.
The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian runs along the posterior aspect of the body, starting from the inner canthus of the eye, ascends to the forehead and intersects at the vertex, descends to the nape, flanks the spine, reaches the waist, penetrates the buttocks, enters the popliteal fossa, exits behind the lateral malleolus, and arrives at the little toe.
The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian runs along the lateral aspect of the body, starting from the outer canthus of the eye, descends from behind the ear to the neck, enters the Clavicular Fossa, descends through the chest, follows the hypochondrium, emerges from the lateral aspect of the knee behind the lateral malleolus, and enters the fourth toe.
All three meridians travel from the lateral aspect of the leg to the foot; the Foot-Yangming meridian is in front, the Taiyang meridian is at the back, and the Shaoyang meridian is in the middle.
The Three Yin Meridians of the Foot travel from the foot to the chest.
The Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian runs along the anterior aspect of the body, starting from the big toe, ascends above the medial malleolus, enters the abdomen, and ascends through the diaphragm.
The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian runs along the posterior aspect of the body, starting below the little toe, follows the medial malleolus, penetrates the spine, ascends through the diaphragm, and pours into the chest.
The Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian runs along the lateral aspect of the body, starting from the big toe, ascends above the medial malleolus, reaches the lower abdomen, penetrates the diaphragm, and spreads through the hypochondriac region.
All three meridians travel from the medial aspect of the leg to the chest; the Taiyin meridian is in front, the Shaoyin meridian is at the back, and the Jueyin meridian is in the middle.
The Three Yin Meridians of the Hand travel from the chest to the hand.
The Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian emerges from the chest to the axilla, follows the anterior aspect of the medial side of the arm, enters the Cun Kou pulse point, and reaches the tip of the thumb.
The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian emerges from the chest to the axilla, follows the posterior aspect of the medial side of the arm, reaches the back of the palm, and arrives at the tip of the little finger.
The Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian emerges from the chest to the axilla, follows the medial aspect of the arm, enters the center of the palm, and reaches the tip of the middle finger.
All three meridians travel from the medial aspect of the arm to the hand; the Hand-Taiyin meridian is in front, the Shaoyin meridian is at the back, and the Jueyin meridian is in the middle.
The Hand Three Yang Meridians traveling to the head and the Foot Three Yang Meridians traveling to the feet all belong to their respective Fu Organs and connect with their exteriorly-interiorly related Zang Organs.
The Foot Three Yin Meridians traveling to the chest and the Hand Three Yin Meridians traveling to the hands all belong to their respective Zang Organs and connect with their exteriorly-interiorly related Fu Organs.
The Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian are exteriorly-interiorly related; the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian are exteriorly-interiorly related; the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian and Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian are exteriorly-interiorly related; the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian are exteriorly-interiorly related; the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian and Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian are exteriorly-interiorly related; the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian are exteriorly-interiorly related. The Six Yang and Six Yin Meridians circulate respectively on the left and right hands and feet, which are referred to as the Twenty-Four Meridians.