（《素问·诊要经终论》）
帝曰∶愿闻十二经脉之终奈何？（十二经脉，即十二脏之气也。终者，气尽之谓。）岐伯曰∶太阳之脉，其终也，戴
眼反折螈 ，其色白，绝汗乃出，出则死矣。（戴者，戴于上也，谓目睛仰视而不能转也。反折，腰脊反张也。 者，筋
之急也。 者，筋之缓也。绝汗者，暴出如油，不能收也。足太阳之脉起于目内 ，上额交巅入络脑，下项夹脊抵腰中，
下至足之小趾；手太阳之脉起于小趾之端，循臂上肩，其支者循颈上颊至目之外 ，故其为病如此。然太阳为三阳之表，
故主色白汗出。《灵枢·终始篇》曰∶其色白，绝皮乃绝汗，绝汗则终矣。亦主表之谓。 音炽。 音纵。）少阳终者，
耳聋百节皆纵，目HT 绝系，绝系一日半死，其死也，色先青白乃死矣。（手足少阳之脉皆入于耳中，亦皆至于目锐 ，
故为耳聋目HT 也。HT 者，直视如惊貌。因少阳之系绝，不能旋转，故如此也。胆者筋其应，少阳气绝，故百节皆纵
也。木之色青，金之色白，金木相贼，则青白先见，此少阳之死候也。HT 音琼。）阳明终者，口目动作，善惊妄言色黄，
其上下经盛，不仁则终矣。（手足阳明之脉皆挟口入目，故为口目动作而牵引歪斜也。闻木音则惕然而惊，是阳明善惊也。
骂詈不避亲疏，是阳明妄言也。黄者，土色外见也。上下经盛，谓头颈手足阳明之脉皆躁动而盛，是胃气之败也。不知
疼痛，谓之不仁，是肌肉之败也。此皆阳明气竭之候。）少阴终者，面黑齿长而垢，腹胀闭，上下不通而终矣。（手少阴
气绝则血败，足少阴气绝则色如 ，故面黑也。肾主骨，肾败则骨败，故齿根不固，长而垢也。手少阴之脉下膈络小肠，
足少阴之脉络膀胱贯肝膈，故为腹胀闭。上下不通则心肾隔绝，此少阴之终也。）太阴终者，腹胀闭，不得息，善噫善呕，
呕则逆，逆则面赤，不逆则上下不通，不通则面黑皮毛焦而终矣。（足太阴脉入腹属脾，故为腹胀闭。手太阴脉上膈属肺
而主呼吸，故为不得息。胀闭则升降难，不得息则气道滞，故为噫为呕。呕则气逆于上，故为面赤。不逆则痞塞于中，
故为上下不通。脾气败则无以制水，故黑色见于面。肺气败则治节不行，故皮毛焦而终矣。噫音伊芳。）厥阴终者，中热嗌
干，善溺心烦，甚则舌卷卵上缩而终矣。（手厥阴心主之脉起于胸中，出属心包络，下膈历络三焦；足厥阴肝脉循喉咙之
后上入颃颡，其下者循股阴入毛中过阴器，故为中热嗌干善溺心烦等病。又舌者心之官也，肝者筋之合也，筋者聚于阴
器，而脉络于舌本，故甚则舌卷卵缩而厥阴之气终矣。嗌音益。卷，上声。）此十二经之所败也。（手足六经各分表里，
是十二经也。按∶《灵枢·终始篇》文与此同者，俱不重载。）
黄帝问道：我想听听十二经脉气绝时的表现是怎样的？（十二经脉，即对应十二脏的气机。所谓“终”，是指经气耗尽的意思。）岐伯回答说：足太阳膀胱经的气机一旦耗尽，患者会出现两眼上视不能转动、身体向后反折抽搐的症状，面色苍白，随后出现如油般暴出的绝汗，一旦绝汗流出，人就会死亡。（“戴眼”是指眼球向上固定，无法转动。“反折”是指腰脊向后强直弯曲。“瘛”是指筋脉拘急，“瘲”是指筋脉弛缓。“绝汗”是指汗出如油，淋漓不止，无法收敛。足太阳膀胱经起于目内眦，上行至额部，交会于头顶，入络于脑，下行项后夹脊柱抵腰部，再向下至足小趾；手太阳小肠经起于手小指端，沿手臂上行至肩，其支脉沿颈部上达面颊至目外眦，所以该经气绝时会出现上述病症。然而太阳为三阳之表，所以主面色白和汗出。《灵枢·终始篇》说：“其色白，绝皮乃绝汗，绝汗则终矣。”这也是指主表证的含义。“瘛”音炽，“瘲”音纵。）手少阳三焦经与足少阳胆经的气机一旦耗尽，患者会出现耳聋、全身关节松弛无力、两眼直视如惊呆状且眼神不能转动的症状，这种状态持续一天半就会死亡，死亡前面色先呈现青白色。（手足少阳经脉都进入耳中，也都到达目锐眦，所以会出现耳聋和两眼直视的症状。“HT”是指眼睛直视，像受惊的样子。因为少阳的系连断绝，眼球不能旋转，所以呈现这种状态。胆主筋，少阳气绝，所以全身关节都松弛无力。木的颜色是青，金的颜色是白，金克木，所以青白色会先显现，这是少阳经气绝的死候。“HT”音琼。）足阳明胃经与手阳明大肠经的气机一旦耗尽，患者会出现口眼歪斜抽动、容易惊恐、胡言乱语、面色发黄的症状，头颈及手足阳明经脉躁动亢盛，若出现肌肉麻木不知疼痛的情况，就会死亡。（手足阳明经脉都挟口入目，所以会出现口眼抽动牵引歪斜。听到木器的声音就惊恐不安，这是阳明经容易惊恐的表现。骂人不避亲疏，这是阳明经胡言乱语的表现。黄色是土色外露，说明脾胃之气败坏。上下经脉躁动亢盛，是指头颈手足阳明经脉都躁动而盛，这是胃气败坏的表现。不知道疼痛，称为不仁，这是肌肉败坏的表现。这些都是阳明经气竭尽的征候。）手少阴心经与足少阴肾经的气机一旦耗尽，患者会出现面色发黑、牙齿显得变长且布满污垢、腹部胀满闭塞、上下不通气的症状，最终死亡。（手少阴心气绝则血液败坏，足少阴肾气绝则面色如炭，所以面色发黑。肾主骨，肾气败坏则骨骼败坏，所以齿根不固，显得牙齿变长且有垢秽。手少阴心经下行穿过膈肌联络小肠，足少阴肾经联络膀胱贯穿肝脏穿过膈肌，所以会出现腹胀闭塞。上下不通意味着心肾隔绝，这是少阴经气绝的表现。）足太阴脾经与手太阴肺经的气机一旦耗尽，患者会出现腹部胀满闭塞、呼吸困难、频繁嗳气和呕吐的症状，如果呕吐则气逆向上，导致面色发红；如果不呕吐，则气机痞塞于中，导致上下不通，不通则面色发黑、皮毛枯焦，最终死亡。（足太阴脾经入腹属脾，所以出现腹部胀满闭塞。手太阴肺经上行穿过膈肌属肺而主管呼吸，所以出现呼吸困难。胀闭导致升降困难，呼吸困难导致气道滞涩，所以出现嗳气和呕吐。呕吐则气逆于上，所以面色发红。不呕吐则痞塞于中，所以上下不通。脾气败坏则无法制约水湿，所以黑色显现于面部。肺气败坏则治节功能不行，所以皮毛枯焦而死亡。“噫”音伊芳。）足厥阴肝经与手厥阴心包经的气机一旦耗尽，患者会出现胸中发热、咽喉干燥、小便频数、心烦意乱等症状，严重时会出现舌头卷缩、睾丸上缩的症状，最终死亡。（手厥阴心包经起于胸中，出来属心包络，下行穿过膈肌依次联络三焦；足厥阴肝经循喉咙后方上行入颃颡，其下行者沿大腿内侧入毛际经过阴器，所以会出现胸中发热、咽喉干燥、小便频数、心烦等病症。另外，舌是心的官窍，肝合筋，筋聚于阴器并脉络于舌本，所以严重时会出现舌头卷缩、睾丸上缩，这是厥阴经气绝的表现。“嗌”音益。“卷”读上声。）这就是十二经脉气绝败坏的表现。（手足六经各分表里，合为十二经脉。按：《灵枢·终始篇》的文字与此相同，此处不再重复记载。）
The Yellow Emperor asked: I wish to hear about the manifestations when the Qi of the Twelve Meridians is exhausted. (The Twelve Meridians correspond to the Qi of the Twelve Zang organs. "Exhaustion" refers to the depletion of Qi.) Qibo replied: When the Qi of the Taiyang meridian is exhausted, the patient will present with eyes fixed upward and unable to move, opisthotonos (backward bending of the body), and convulsions; the complexion will be pale, followed by the emergence of "Jue Han" (sweat of exhaustion resembling oil). Once this sweat appears, death ensues. ("Dai yan" means the eyeballs are fixed upward and cannot rotate. "Fan zhe" refers to the backward extension of the waist and spine. "Chi" denotes tendon spasm, while "Zong" denotes tendon flaccidity. "Jue Han" is sweat that bursts out like oil and cannot be contained. The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian originates at the inner canthus, ascends to the forehead, intersects at the vertex, enters to connect with the brain, descends along the neck, flanks the spine, reaches the loins, and goes down to the little toe of the foot; the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian originates at the tip of the little finger, runs up the arm to the shoulder, and its branch runs along the neck to the cheek and ends at the outer canthus. Hence, diseases of this meridian manifest as described above. However, Taiyang is the exterior of the Three Yang meridians, so it governs the complexion white and sweating. The *Ling Shu · Zhong Shi Pian* states: "If the complexion is white, the skin breaks and Jue Han appears; once Jue Han appears, life ends." This also refers to governing the exterior. "Chi" sounds like 'chi'; "Zong" sounds like 'zong'.) When the Qi of the Shaoyang meridian is exhausted, the patient will suffer from deafness, flaccidity of all joints, and eyes staring straight ahead in a startled manner without rotation. Death occurs within one and a half days after these signs appear; prior to death, the complexion first turns blue-green and white. (Both Hand and Foot Shaoyang meridians enter the ear and reach the outer canthus, hence deafness and staring eyes. "HT" describes the appearance of staring straight ahead as if startled. Because the Shaoyang connections are severed, the eyes cannot rotate, resulting in this state. The Gallbladder governs the tendons; when Shaoyang Qi is exhausted, all joints become flaccid. Wood's color is blue-green, Metal's color is white. When Metal overacts on Wood, blue-green and white colors appear first; this is a sign of Shaoyang exhaustion. "HT" sounds like 'qiong'.) When the Qi of the Yangming meridian is exhausted, the patient will exhibit twitching and distortion of the mouth and eyes, frequent fright, delirious speech, and a yellow complexion. The upper and lower Jing meridians will be hyperactive. If the muscles become insensible (numb to pain), death follows. (Hand and Foot Yangming meridians flank the mouth and enter the eyes, causing twitching and deviation. Hearing the sound of wood causes sudden fright, indicating Yangming's tendency toward fright. Cursing without regard for relatives or strangers indicates delirious speech. Yellow is the color of Earth appearing externally, indicating Spleen/Stomach Qi failure. Hyperactivity of the upper and lower meridians refers to restlessness and excess in the Yangming meridians of the head, neck, hands, and feet, indicating the failure of Stomach Qi. Insensibility to pain is called "Bu Ren," indicating muscle failure. These are all signs of Yangming Qi exhaustion.) When the Qi of the Shaoyin meridian is exhausted, the patient will have a black complexion, teeth that appear elongated and covered with dirt, abdominal distension and closure, and obstruction of both upper and lower passages, leading to death. (When Heart Qi of Hand-Shaoyin fails, blood deteriorates; when Kidney Qi of Foot-Shaoyin fails, the complexion becomes like charcoal, hence the black face. The Kidney governs bone; when Kidney fails, bones fail, so tooth roots become unstable, making teeth appear long and dirty. The Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian passes through the diaphragm to connect with the Small Intestine; the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian connects with the Bladder, passes through the Liver, and pierces the diaphragm, causing abdominal distension and closure. Obstruction of upper and lower passages signifies the separation of Heart and Kidney; this is the exhaustion of Shaoyin.) When the Qi of the Taiyin meridian is exhausted, the patient will experience abdominal distension and closure, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), frequent belching, and vomiting. If vomiting occurs, Qi rebels upward, causing a red face; if vomiting does not occur, Qi stagnates in the middle, causing obstruction of upper and lower passages. Obstruction leads to a black face and scorched skin and hair, resulting in death. (Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian enters the abdomen and belongs to the Spleen, causing abdominal distension and closure. Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian ascends through the diaphragm, belongs to the Lung, and governs respiration, causing dyspnea. Distension and closure hinder ascending and descending; dyspnea obstructs the airway, causing belching and vomiting. Vomiting causes Qi to rebel upward, hence a red face. No vomiting means stagnation in the middle, hence obstruction. Failure of Spleen Qi fails to control Water, so black color appears on the face. Failure of Lung Qi disrupts regulation, so skin and hair become scorched. "Yi" sounds like 'yi fang'.) When the Qi of the Jueyin meridian is exhausted, the patient will suffer from heat in the middle jiao, dry throat, frequent urination, and vexation. In severe cases, the tongue will curl inward, and the testicles will retract upward, leading to death. (Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian originates in the chest, emerges to belong to the Pericardium, descends through the diaphragm to connect sequentially with the Sanjiao; Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian follows behind the throat, ascends into the nasopharynx, and its descending branch follows the medial thigh, enters the pubic region, and passes through the genitalia, causing heat in the middle, dry throat, frequent urination, and vexation. Furthermore, the tongue is the organ of the Heart, and the Liver harmonizes with the tendons. Tendons gather at the genitalia and connect to the root of the tongue. Thus, in severe cases, the tongue curls and testicles retract, marking the exhaustion of Jueyin Qi. "Ye" sounds like 'yi'; "Juan" is pronounced with the rising tone.) These are the failures of the Twelve Meridians. (Hand and Foot Six Meridians each have interior-exterior pairs, forming the Twelve Meridians. Note: The text in *Ling Shu · Zhong Shi Pian* is identical to this, so it is not repeated here.)