（灵枢脉度篇）
黄帝曰∶跷脉安起安止？何气荣水？（跷脉有二，曰阴跷，曰阳跷，皆奇经也。何气荣水，言跷脉为何经之气，乃
亦如经水之营行也。跷有五音，跷、皎、乔、脚，又极虐切。）岐伯答曰∶跷脉者，少阴之别，起于然骨之后，（少阴之
别，足少阴肾经之别络也。然骨之后，照海也，足少阴穴，即阴跷之所生。按∶本篇止言阴跷之起而未及阳跷，惟缪刺
论曰∶邪客于足阳跷之脉，刺外踝之下半寸所。盖阳跷为太阳之别，故二十八难曰∶阳跷脉者，起于跟中，循外踝上行，
入风池。阴跷者，亦起于跟中，循内踝上行，至咽喉，交贯冲脉。故阴跷为足少阴之别，起于照海，阳跷为足太阳之别，
起于申脉，庶得其详也。）上内踝之上，直上循阴股入阴，上循胸里，入缺盆，上出人迎之前，入 ，属目内 ，合于太
阳阳跷而上行，气并相还则为濡目，气不荣则目不合。（跷脉自内踝直上阴股、入阴、循胸里者，皆并足少阴而上行也。
然足少阴之直者，循喉咙而挟舌本。此则入缺盆，上出人迎之前，入 属目内 ，以合于足太阳之阳跷，是跷脉有阴阳
之异也。阴跷阳跷之气，并行回还而濡润于目。若跷气不荣，则目不能合。故寒热病篇曰∶阴跷阳跷，阴阳相交，阳入
阴，阴出阳，交于目锐 ，阳气盛则瞑目，阴气盛则瞑目。此所以目之暝与不瞑，皆跷脉为之主也。）黄帝曰∶气独行五
脏，不荣六腑何也？（帝以跷脉为少阴之别，因疑其气独行五脏，不荣六腑也，故有此问。）岐伯答曰∶气之不得无行也，
如水之流，如日月之行不休，故阴脉荣其脏，阳脉荣其腑，如环之无端，莫知其纪，终而复始。其流溢之气，内溉脏腑，
外濡腠理。（如水之流，如日月之行，皆言不得无行也。阴荣其脏，指阴跷也。阳荣其腑，指阳跷也。言无分脏腑，跷脉
皆所必至也。流者流于内，溢者溢于外，故曰流溢之气，内溉脏腑，外濡腠理，谓其不独在脏也。按∶此跷脉之义，阴
出阳则交于足太阳，阳入阴则交于足少阴，阳盛则目张，阴盛则目瞑，似皆随卫气为言者，故阴脉荣其脏，阳脉荣其腑
也。）黄帝曰∶跷脉有阴阳，何脉当其数？岐伯答曰∶男子数其阳，女子数其阴，当数者为经，其不当数者为络也。（跷
脉阴阳之数，男女各有所属。男属阳，当数其阳；女属阴，当数其阴。故男子以阳跷为经，阴跷为络；女子以阴跷为经，
阳跷为络也。）
《灵枢·脉度篇》
黄帝问道：跷脉从哪里起始，又在哪里终止？是哪条经脉的气血像水流一样在此运行？（跷脉共有两条，称为阴跷脉和阳跷脉，都属于奇经八脉。所谓“何气荣水”，是问跷脉是哪条经脉的气血，像经水一样在其中营行。其中“跷”字有五种读音：跷、皎、乔、脚，以及极虐切音。）
岐伯回答说：跷脉，是足少阴肾经的别络，起始于然骨穴之后方。（足少阴之别，即足少阴肾经的别络。然骨之后，指的是照海穴，这是足少阴肾经的穴位，也就是阴跷脉产生的地方。按：本篇只说了阴跷脉的起始，没有提到阳跷脉，只有在《缪刺论》中说：“邪气客于足阳跷脉，针刺外踝下方半寸处。”大概因为阳跷脉是足太阳膀胱经的别络，所以《难经·二十八难》说：“阳跷脉，起始于脚跟中，沿外踝上行，进入风池穴。阴跷脉，也起始于脚跟中，沿内踝上行，至咽喉，与冲脉交会贯通。”因此，阴跷脉是足少阴肾经的别络，起始于照海穴；阳跷脉是足太阳膀胱经的别络，起始于申脉穴，这样叙述才详尽。）然后向上经过内踝之上，笔直向上沿着大腿内侧进入阴部，再向上沿着胸部内部，进入缺盆穴，向上出于人迎穴之前，进入目内眦，归属于目内眦，与足太阳膀胱经的阳跷脉会合后一起上行。两脉之气并行互相归还，从而濡润眼睛；如果气血不能濡养，则眼睛不能闭合。（跷脉从内踝笔直向上经过大腿内侧、进入阴部、沿着胸部内部的，都是并随足少阴肾经而上行的。然而足少阴肾经直行的主干，是沿着喉咙并挟持舌根。这里却是进入缺盆，向上出于人迎穴之前，进入目内眦归属于目内眦，以与足太阳膀胱经的阳跷脉会合，这说明跷脉有阴跷和阳跷的区别。阴跷脉和阳跷脉的气血，并行回还而濡润于眼睛。如果跷脉之气不能濡养，则眼睛不能闭合。所以《寒热病篇》说：“阴跷脉和阳跷脉，阴阳相交，阳气入阴，阴气出阳，在眼睛锐眦处交会。阳气盛则闭目睡觉，阴气盛则睁眼不睡。”这就是眼睛的开合睡眠与否，都由跷脉所主宰的原因。）
黄帝问道：卫气单独在五脏运行，而不营养六腑，这是为什么呢？（黄帝认为跷脉是足少阴肾经的别络，因而怀疑它的气血只在五脏运行，不营养六腑，所以提出这个问题。）
岐伯回答说：气血是不可能不运行的，就像水流一样，像日月运行一样不停息，所以阴脉营养五脏，阳脉营养六腑，像圆环一样没有端点，无法知道它的头绪，循环往复，终而复始。其流动溢出之气，向内灌溉脏腑，向外濡润腠理。（像水流一样，像日月运行一样，都是说气血不可能不运行。阴脉营养五脏，指的是阴跷脉。阳脉营养六腑，指的是阳跷脉。意思是无论脏腑，跷脉的气血都必须到达。流是指流向内部，溢是指溢出外部，所以说流动溢出之气，向内灌溉脏腑，向外濡润腠理，是说它不仅仅在脏。按：这里的跷脉之义，阴跷出阳则与足太阳膀胱经交会，阳跷入阴则与足少阴肾经交会，阳气盛则眼睛睁开，阴气盛则眼睛闭合，似乎都是随着卫气而言的，所以说阴脉营养五脏，阳脉营养六腑。）
岐伯回答说：男子计算阳跷脉的数量，女子计算阴跷脉的数量，应当计算的那条作为经，不应当计算的那条作为络。（跷脉阴阳数量的归属，男女各有不同。男子属阳，应当计算阳跷脉；女子属阴，应当计算阴跷脉。所以男子以阳跷脉为经，阴跷脉为络；女子以阴跷脉为经，阳跷脉为络。）
Ling Shu: Mai Du Pian (Chapter on Pulse Lengths)
Huang Di asked: Where do the Qiao vessels originate and terminate? Which meridian's Qi circulates within them like water? (There are two Qiao vessels, namely the Yin Qiao vessel and the Yang Qiao vessel, both belonging to the Extraordinary Vessels. "Which meridian's Qi circulates" asks which meridian's Qi flows through the Qiao vessels like water in a channel. The character "Qiao" has five pronunciations: qiao, jiao, qiao, jiao, and ji nüe.)
Qi Bo replied: The Qiao vessels are the divergent branches of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, originating behind the Ran Gu acupoint. (The divergent branch of Foot-Shaoyin refers to the divergent branch of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Behind the Ran Gu refers to the Zhaohai [KI-6] acupoint, an acupoint of the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian, which is where the Yin Qiao vessel originates. Note: This chapter only mentions the origin of the Yin Qiao vessel and does not mention the Yang Qiao vessel. Only in the Miao Ci Lun (Chapter on Miraculous Puncture) does it say: "When pathogenic factors invade the Foot-Yang Qiao vessel, puncture half a cun below the lateral malleolus." Presumably because the Yang Qiao vessel is the divergent branch of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, the Nan Jing (Classic of Difficult Issues), Chapter 28, states: "The Yang Qiao vessel originates in the heel, ascends along the lateral malleolus, and enters the Fengchi [GB-20] acupoint. The Yin Qiao vessel also originates in the heel, ascends along the medial malleolus, reaches the throat, and intersects with the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel)." Therefore, the Yin Qiao vessel is the divergent branch of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, originating at Zhaohai [KI-6]; the Yang Qiao vessel is the divergent branch of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, originating at Shenmai [BL-62]. This provides a detailed account.) It then ascends above the medial malleolus, goes straight up along the medial thigh, enters the genital region, ascends along the interior of the chest, enters the Quepen [ST-12] acupoint, emerges anterior to the Yingchang [ST-9] acupoint, enters the inner canthus of the eye, attaches to the inner canthus, and joins with the Yang Qiao vessel of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian to ascend together. When the Qi of both vessels runs parallel and returns, it moistens the eyes; if the Qi fails to nourish, the eyes cannot close. (The Qiao vessels ascending straight from the medial malleolus along the medial thigh, entering the genital region, and following the interior of the chest all ascend alongside the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. However, the main trunk of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian runs along the throat and flanks the base of the tongue. Here, it enters the Quepen [ST-12] acupoint, emerges anterior to the Yingchang [ST-9] acupoint, enters the inner canthus of the eye, and attaches to the inner canthus to join with the Yang Qiao vessel of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. This indicates that the Qiao vessels have Yin and Yang distinctions. The Qi of the Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao vessels runs parallel and returns to moisten the eyes. If the Qi of the Qiao vessels fails to nourish, the eyes cannot close. Thus, the Han Re Bing Pian (Chapter on Cold and Heat Diseases) states: "The Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao vessels intersect; Yang enters Yin, and Yin exits Yang, intersecting at the outer canthus of the eye. When Yang Qi is abundant, the eyes close; when Yin Qi is abundant, the eyes open." This is why the opening and closing of the eyes, as well as sleep and wakefulness, are governed by the Qiao vessels.)
Huang Di asked: Why does the Qi circulate exclusively in the Five Zang Organs and fail to nourish the Six Fu Organs? (Since Huang Di considers the Qiao vessels to be the divergent branches of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, he suspects that their Qi circulates only in the Five Zang Organs and does not nourish the Six Fu Organs, hence this question.)
Qi Bo replied: Qi cannot but circulate, just as water flows and the sun and moon move without ceasing. Therefore, Yin meridians nourish the Zang Organs, and Yang meridians nourish the Fu Organs. Like a circle without beginning or end, its origins are unknowable, cycling endlessly from end to start. Its flowing and overflowing Qi irrigates the internal Zang and Fu Organs and moistens the external Couli (interstices). (Just as water flows and the sun and moon move, these phrases indicate that Qi cannot but circulate. "Yin meridians nourish the Zang Organs" refers to the Yin Qiao vessel. "Yang meridians nourish the Fu Organs" refers to the Yang Qiao vessel. This means that regardless of whether they are Zang or Fu organs, the Qi of the Qiao vessels must reach them. "Flowing" refers to movement inward, and "overflowing" refers to movement outward. Thus, it is said that the flowing and overflowing Qi irrigates the internal Zang and Fu Organs and moistens the external Couli, indicating that it is not confined solely to the Zang Organs. Note: Regarding the meaning of the Qiao vessels here, Yin Qiao exits to Yang and intersects with the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, while Yang Qiao enters Yin and intersects with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Abundant Yang Qi causes the eyes to open, and abundant Yin Qi causes the eyes to close. This seems to be discussed in relation to Wei Qi (Defensive Qi); thus, it is said that Yin meridians nourish the Zang Organs and Yang meridians nourish the Fu Organs.)
Huang Di asked: Since there are Yin and Yang Qiao vessels, which one counts towards the numerical total of the meridians?
Qi Bo replied: For men, the count includes the Yang Qiao vessel; for women, the count includes the Yin Qiao vessel. The one counted is considered a Jing Meridian (Regular Meridian), and the one not counted is considered a Luo Collateral. (The numerical attribution of Yin and Yang Qiao vessels differs between men and women. Men belong to Yang and should count the Yang Qiao vessel; women belong to Yin and should count the Yin Qiao vessel. Therefore, for men, the Yang Qiao vessel is the Jing Meridian and the Yin Qiao vessel is the Luo Collateral; for women, the Yin Qiao vessel is the Jing Meridian and the Yang Qiao vessel is the Luo Collateral.)