经言人五脏十二节皆通乎天气者，乃论手足经三阴三阳也。其十二经，外循身形，内贯脏腑，
以应十二月，即十二节也。五脏为阴，六腑为阳。一阴一阳乃为一合，即六合也。
夫少阴之经主心与肾二脏者，盖心属火，而少阴冬脉，其本在肾。又君火正司于午，对化于
子，是以肾脏亦少阴主之。五脏为阴，不可言阳。水随肾至，故太阳为腑，则手太阳小肠，足太
阳膀胱也。
太阴之经主脾与肺二脏者，盖脾属阴土，而太阴阴脉在肺。又上生金，子随母居，故肺太阴
主之。金随肺至，故阳明为腑，则手阳明大肠，足阳明胃也。
厥阴之经主肝与心包络二脏者，盖肝属木，又生火，子随母居，故心包厥阴主之。火随心包
而至，故少阳为腑，则手少阳三焦，足少阳胆也。
其手足经者，乃手经脉自两手起，足经之脉自两足起也。以十二辰言之，盖阴生于午，阴上
生，故曰手经；阳生于子，阳下生，故曰足经，所以纪上下也。又心肺心包在上，属手经，肝脾
肾在下，属足经，亦其意也。脏腑同为手足经，乃一合也。心包非脏，三焦非腑也。经曰∶膻中
者，臣使之官，喜乐出焉。在胸主两乳间，为气之海，然心主为君也。三焦者，决渎之官，水道
出焉。三焦有名无形，上合心主，下合于右肾，主谒道。（诸气名为使者也。）
医经中说，人的五脏和十二关节都与天气相通，这里论述的是手足三阴三阳经脉。这十二条经脉，外部循行于身体形体，内部贯穿脏腑，以对应十二月，也就是所谓的“十二节”。五脏属于阴，六腑属于阳。一阴一阳结合称为一合，共有六合。
少阴经主要主管心和肾两个脏器，因为心属火，而少阴的冬脉，其根本在肾。另外，君火（心火）正位于午时，对冲化生于子时，因此肾脏也由少阴经主管。五脏属阴，不能说是阳。水气随着肾而至，所以太阳经对应的腑是手太阳小肠和足太阳膀胱。
太阴经主要主管脾和肺两个脏器，因为脾属阴土，而太阴的阴脉在肺。另外，金气在上生成，子随母居，所以肺由太阴经主管。金气随着肺而至，所以阳明经对应的腑是手阳明大肠和足阳明胃。
厥阴经主要主管肝和心包络两个脏器，因为肝属木，又生火，子随母居，所以心包络由厥阴经主管。火气随着心包络而至，所以少阳经对应的腑是手少阳三焦和足少阳胆。
所谓的手足经脉，是指手经脉从双手开始，足经脉从双足开始。用十二地支时辰来说，阴气生于午时，阴气向上生长，所以叫手经；阳气生于子时，阳气向下生长，所以叫足经，这是用来记录上下部位的。另外，心、肺、心包络在上部，属于手经；肝、脾、肾在下部，属于足经，这也是其中的含义。脏和腑共同构成手足经脉，这是一合的关系。心包络不是脏，三焦也不是腑。医经说：膻中（心包），是臣使之官，喜乐由此发出。它位于胸部两乳之间，是气的海洋，然而心主（心）是君主。三焦，是决渎之官，水道由此而出。三焦有名而无实形，上合于心主，下合于右肾，主管谒道。（各种气被称为使者。）
The classic texts state that the five Zang organs and the twelve joints of a person all connect with the Qi of Heaven; this passage discusses the Three Yin and Three Yang meridians of the hands and feet. These twelve meridians circulate externally along the body's form and penetrate internally through the Zang and Fu organs, corresponding to the twelve months, which are referred to as the "twelve joints." The five Zang organs belong to Yin, and the six Fu organs belong to Yang. One Yin and one Yang combine to form a pair, resulting in six pairs (Liu He).
The Shaoyin meridian primarily governs the Heart and Kidney organs because the Heart belongs to Fire, and the Winter pulse of Shaoyin has its root in the Kidney. Furthermore, Monarch Fire (Heart Fire) is presided over at Wu hour and transforms/counter-transforms at Zi hour; therefore, the Kidney is also governed by the Shaoyin meridian. The five Zang organs are Yin and cannot be described as Yang. Water Qi follows the Kidney; thus, the Taiyang meridian corresponds to the Fu organs: the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine and Foot-Taiyang Bladder.
The Taiyin meridian primarily governs the Spleen and Lung organs because the Spleen belongs to Yin Earth, and the Yin pulse of Taiyin is located in the Lung. Moreover, Metal Qi generates above, and the child resides with the mother; therefore, the Lung is governed by the Taiyin meridian. Metal Qi follows the Lung; thus, the Yangming meridian corresponds to the Fu organs: the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine and Foot-Yangming Stomach.
The Jueyin meridian primarily governs the Liver and Pericardium organs because the Liver belongs to Wood and generates Fire, and the child resides with the mother; therefore, the Pericardium is governed by the Jueyin meridian. Fire Qi follows the Pericardium; thus, the Shaoyang meridian corresponds to the Fu organs: the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao (Triple Burner) and Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder.
Regarding the hand and foot meridians, the hand meridians originate from the two hands, and the foot meridians originate from the two feet. In terms of the twelve Earthly Branches, Yin Qi is born at Wu hour and grows upward, hence they are called hand meridians; Yang Qi is born at Zi hour and grows downward, hence they are called foot meridians. This serves to record the upper and lower regions. Additionally, the Heart, Lungs, and Pericardium are located superiorly and belong to the hand meridians, while the Liver, Spleen, and Kidneys are located inferiorly and belong to the foot meridians, which is also part of this meaning. The Zang and Fu organs together constitute the hand and foot meridians, forming a single pair. The Pericardium is not a Zang organ, and the Sanjiao is not a Fu organ. The classics state: Danzhong (Pericardium) is the official of the minister envoy, from which joy and pleasure emerge. It is located in the chest between the two breasts and serves as the Sea of Qi, yet the Heart Master (Heart) is the Sovereign. The Sanjiao is the official of irrigation and drainage, from which water passages flow. The Sanjiao has a name but no distinct form; it connects superiorly with the Heart Master and inferiorly with the right Kidney, governing the pathways of communication. (All types of Qi are referred to as messengers.)