任为阴脉之海，其脉起于中极之下，少腹之内，会阴之分。（在两阴之间）上行而外出，循曲骨，（横骨上毛际
陷中）上毛际，至中极，（脐下四寸，膀胱之募）同足厥阴、
太阴、少阴并行腹里，循关元，（脐下三寸，小肠之募，三阴任脉之会）历石门（即丹田，一名命门，在脐下
二寸，三焦募也）气海，（脐下一寸半宛宛中，男子生气之海）会足少阳、冲脉于阴交。（脐下一寸，当膀胱上口，
三焦之募）循神阙、（脐中央）水分，（脐上一寸，当小肠下口）会足太阴于下脘。（脐上二寸，当胃下
口）历建里，（脐上三寸）会手太阳、少阳、足阳明于中脘。（脐上四寸，胃之募也）上上脘、（脐上五寸）巨
阙、（鸠尾下一寸，心之募也）鸠尾、（蔽骨下五分）中庭、（膻中下一寸六分陷中）膻中、（玉堂下一寸六分，
直两乳中间）玉堂、（紫宫下一寸六分）紫宫、（华盖下一寸六分）华盖、（璇玑下一寸）璇玑，（天突下一寸）
上喉咙，会阴维于天突、廉泉。（天突在结喉下四寸宛宛中，廉泉在结喉上，舌下，中央）上颐，循承浆，与手
足阳明、督脉会。（唇下陷中）环唇上，至下 交，复出分行，循面，系两目下之中央，至承泣而终。（目下七分，
直瞳子陷中，二穴）凡二十七穴。难经、甲乙经，并无循面以下之说。
任脉之别络，名曰尾翳。下鸠尾，散于腹。实则腹皮痛，虚则痒搔。
灵枢经曰∶缺盆之中任脉也，名曰天突。其侧动脉人迎，足阳明也。
任脉是阴经之海，其经脉起始于中极穴之下，位于少腹内部，会合于会阴部位。（在两阴之间）向上行走并外出，沿着曲骨穴（横骨上方毛际凹陷处），上行至毛际，到达中极穴（脐下四寸，膀胱的募穴），与足厥阴肝经、足太阴脾经、足少阴肾经并行于腹部内侧，沿着关元穴（脐下三寸，小肠的募穴，为足三阴经与任脉的交会穴），经过石门穴（即丹田，又名命门，在脐下二寸，是三焦的募穴）、气海穴（脐下一寸半凹陷处，男子生气的海洋），在阴交穴（脐下一寸，正当膀胱上口，三焦的募穴）与足少阳胆经、冲脉相会。
接着沿着神阙穴（脐中央）、水分穴（脐上一寸，正当小肠下口），在下脘穴（脐上二寸，正当胃下口）与足太阴脾经相会。经过建里穴（脐上三寸），在中脘穴（脐上四寸，胃的募穴）与手太阳小肠经、手少阳三焦经、足阳明胃经相会。向上经过上脘穴（脐上五寸）、巨阙穴（鸠尾下一寸，心的募穴）、鸠尾穴（蔽骨下五分）、中庭穴（膻中下一寸六分凹陷处）、膻中穴（玉堂下一寸六分，直对两乳中间）、玉堂穴（紫宫下一寸六分）、紫宫穴（华盖下一寸六分）、华盖穴（璇玑下一寸）、璇玑穴（天突下一寸）。
上行至喉咙，在天突穴和廉泉穴与阴维脉相会。（天突穴在结喉下四寸凹陷处，廉泉穴在结喉上方，舌下中央）上行至面颊，沿着承浆穴，与手阳明大肠经、足阳明胃经、督脉相会。（唇下凹陷处）环绕嘴唇上方，至地仓穴下方相交，再复出分行，沿着面部，联系两眼下方的中央，至承泣穴而结束。（目下七分，直对瞳孔凹陷处，左右各一穴）共计二十七个穴位。《难经》和《甲乙经》中，都没有关于任脉循行于面部以下的记载。
Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) is the Sea of Yin Meridians. Its vessel originates below Zhongji (CV3), within the lower abdomen, and converges at Huiyin (CV1). (Located between the two yin organs.) It ascends outward, following Qugu (CV2) (in the depression above the pubic hairline), ascending to the pubic hairline, reaching Zhongji (CV3) (four cun below the umbilicus, the Front-Mu point of the Bladder). It runs parallel inside the abdomen with the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, following Guanyuan (CV4) (three cun below the umbilicus, the Front-Mu point of the Small Intestine, and the convergence of the Three Yin Meridians and Ren Mai). It passes through Shimen (CV5) (also known as Dantian or Mingmen, located two cun below the umbilicus, the Front-Mu point of the Sanjiao), Qihai (CV6) (located in the depression one and a half cun below the umbilicus, the sea of vital energy for men), and meets the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) at Yinjiao (CV7). (One cun below the umbilicus, corresponding to the upper opening of the bladder, the Front-Mu point of the Sanjiao.)
It follows Shenque (CV8) (the center of the umbilicus) and Shuifen (CV9) (one cun above the umbilicus, corresponding to the lower opening of the small intestine), meeting the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian at Xiawan (CV10). (Two cun above the umbilicus, corresponding to the lower opening of the stomach.) It passes through Jianli (CV11) (three cun above the umbilicus) and meets the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian at Zhongwan (CV12). (Four cun above the umbilicus, the Front-Mu point of the Stomach.) Ascending further, it passes through Shangwan (CV13) (five cun above the umbilicus), Juque (CV14) (one cun below Jiawei, the Front-Mu point of the Heart), Jiawei (CV15) (five fen below the xiphoid process), Zhongting (CV16) (in the depression one cun six fen below Danzhong), Danzhong (CV17) (one cun six fen below Yutang, directly between the two nipples), Yutang (CV18) (one cun six fen below Zigong), Zigong (CV19) (one cun six fen below Huagai), Huagai (CV20) (one cun below Xuanji), and Xuanji (CV21) (one cun below Tiantu).
It ascends to the throat, meeting the Yinwei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel) at Tiantu (CV22) and Lianquan (CV23). (Tiantu is located four cun below the laryngeal prominence in the depression; Lianquan is located above the laryngeal prominence, in the center under the tongue.) It ascends to the chin, follows Chengjiang (CV24), and meets the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, and Du Mai (Governing Vessel). (In the depression below the lip.) It circles above the lips, crosses below Dicang, re-emerges and branches out, follows the face, connects to the center below both eyes, and ends at Chengqi (ST1). (Seven fen below the eye, directly opposite the pupil in the depression; there are two acupoints.) There are twenty-seven acupoints in total. The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) and the *Jia Yi Jing* (A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) do not contain descriptions of the Ren Mai traversing below the face.
The collateral vessel of the Ren Mai is named Wei Yi. It descends from Jiawei and scatters into the abdomen. In excess conditions, there is pain in the abdominal skin; in deficiency conditions, there is itching and scratching.
The *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) states: "In the center of the Supraclavicular Fossa lies the Ren Mai, named Tiantu." The pulsating artery on its side is Yingchang (LI18), which belongs to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian.