\r十二经脏腑图\p06-d33a28.bmp\r
太阳小肠足膀胱，阳明大肠足胃当，少阳三焦足胆配，太阴手肺足脾乡，少阴心经足为肾，厥阴包络足肝方。
\r十二经脏腑表里图\p06-d33a29.bmp\r
心、肝。脾、肺、肾为五脏，并心包络为六脏；大小肠胆、胃、膀胱，并三焦为六腑，合之而为十二经。十二
经各有其络，共阳跷、阴跷、脾之大络为十五络。十五络之外，犹有支络。盖经者径也，经脉之行，以气血之流行周
身，经常而不断者言也，如川流之不息矣。络犹兜也，如人横线为络，以兜物也。络脉之行，以气血之分布一身，无微
而不周者言也，如川流之分派而不泄矣。（有云∶十二经，加督脉、任脉为十五络，非阴跷、阳跷也少，不知当看一别
字。十二经共督、任二脉之别，为十五络。别即阴跷、阳跷，非有二也。）
五脏（脏者藏也，藏精气而不泄，满而不实。如心、肺皆有空窍，肝、肾、脾亦有小小筒系，条数不一之空窍，心
包亦然）。
六腑（腑者空也，传化物而不藏，实而不满。如肠胃皆空，饮食入胃，则胃实而肠空，下入于肠，则肠实而胃空，
实则又下行矣，膀胱亦然）。
手经太阳属小肠，膀胱经属足太阳，肝足厥阴手包络，胃足阳明手大肠，胆属少阳足经寻，三焦手内少阳临，肾足
少阴手是心，脾足太阴手肺金。
【十二经脏腑图】
太阳小肠与足膀胱，阳明大肠与足胃相应，少阳三焦与足胆相配，太阴手肺与足脾同属，少阴心经与足肾为伴，厥阴包络与足肝对应。
【十二经脏腑表里图】
心、肝、脾、肺、肾称为五脏，加上心包络共为六脏；大小肠、胆、胃、膀胱，加上三焦共为六腑，合起来构成十二经脉。十二经脉各自有络脉，加上阳跷脉、阴跷脉、脾之大络，共为十五络。在十五络之外，还有分支的络脉。所谓“经”，就是路径的意思，经脉的运行，是指气血流行于周身，常规而不断绝的状态，就像河流水流不息一样。所谓“络”，就像兜网，如同人的横向线条构成网络，用来兜住物体。络脉的运行，是指气血分布全身，无微不至且周全，就像河流分派而不泄漏一样。（有一种说法认为：十二经加上督脉、任脉为十五络，而不是阴跷、阳跷脉少，不知道应该看那个“别”字。十二经加上督、任二脉的别络，才构成十五络。这里的“别”即指阴跷、阳跷，并没有两个不同的概念。）
五脏（脏的意思是藏，储藏精气而不泄出，充满精气但不充实有形之物。比如心、肺都有空窍，肝、肾、脾也有细小的筒状结构，条数不一的空窍，心包络也是如此）。
六腑（腑的意思是空，传导化物而不储藏，充实但不充满。比如肠胃都是空的，饮食进入胃，则胃充实而肠空虚，食物下行进入肠，则肠充实而胃空虚，充实后又向下运行，膀胱也是这样）。
手经中太阳经属于小肠，膀胱经属于足太阳经，肝经属于足厥阴经，手厥阴心包络经，胃经属于足阳明经，手阳明大肠经，胆经属于足少阳经寻找其循行，三焦经在手部内侧属于少阳经，肾经属于足少阴经，手少阴心经，脾经属于足太阴经，手太阴肺经属金。
[Diagram of the Twelve Meridians and Zang-Fu Organs]
The Taiyang (Greater Yang) Small Intestine corresponds to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder; the Yangming (Bright Yang) Large Intestine corresponds to the Foot-Yangming Stomach; the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) Sanjiao (Triple Burner) pairs with the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder; the Taiyin (Greater Yin) Hand-Lung pairs with the Foot-Taiyin Spleen; the Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) Heart meridian is paired with the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney; and the Jueyin (Terminal Yin) Pericardium meridian corresponds to the Foot-Jueyin Liver.
[Diagram of the Interior-Exterior Relationships of the Twelve Meridians and Zang-Fu Organs]
The Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney are called the Five Zang (Solid) Organs (Zang organs store essence and Qi without leaking, being full but not solid); together with the Pericardium, they form six Zang organs. The Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Gallbladder, Stomach, and Bladder, together with the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), form six Fu (Hollow) Organs (Fu organs transmit and transform substances without storing, being solid but not full); together they constitute the Twelve Meridians. Each of the Twelve Meridians has its own Luo (Connecting) vessels. Adding the Yang Qiao (Yang Heel) vessel, the Yin Qiao (Yin Heel) vessel, and the Great Luo of the Spleen, there are fifteen Luo vessels in total. Outside these fifteen Luo vessels, there are further branch vessels. The term "Jing" (Meridian/Vessel) refers to a path or channel. The movement of the Jing meridians refers to the circulation of Qi and Blood throughout the body, continuous and unceasing, like an inexhaustible river flow. The term "Luo" is akin to a net or兜 (兜 implies enclosing or netting); just as horizontal lines form a network to enclose objects, the Luo vessels distribute Qi and Blood throughout the body, reaching every minute detail without leakage, like tributaries branching off from a river without losing water. (Some claim that the Twelve Meridians plus the Du (Governing Vessel) and Ren (Conception Vessel) make up the fifteen Luo vessels, excluding the Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao vessels. This misunderstanding likely arises from misinterpreting the character "Bie" (Branch/Divergent). It should be understood that the Twelve Meridians plus the Bie-Luo (Divergent Branches) of the Du and Ren vessels constitute the fifteen Luo vessels. These "Bie" branches refer to the Yin Qiao and Yang Qiao vessels, meaning there is no duplication or separate entity.)
Five Zang Organs: The character "Zang" means to store. They store Essence and Qi without excreting them, remaining full (of vital substances) but not solid (with food waste). For instance, the Heart and Lung possess hollow cavities; the Liver, Kidney, and Spleen also have small tubular structures and varying numbers of hollow passages; the Pericardium is similar.
Six Fu Organs: The character "Fu" means empty/hollow. They transmit and transform substances without storing them, becoming temporarily solid (filled with contents) but not permanently full (of essence). For example, the intestines and stomach are hollow. When food enters the Stomach, the Stomach becomes filled while the Intestines are empty. As it moves down into the Intestines, the Intestines become filled while the Stomach becomes empty, and then the contents move downward again. The Bladder functions similarly.
In the Hand Meridians: The Taiyang belongs to the Small Intestine; the Foot-Taiyang belongs to the Bladder. The Foot-Jueyin belongs to the Liver; the Hand-Jueyin belongs to the Pericardium. The Foot-Yangming belongs to the Stomach; the Hand-Yangming belongs to the Large Intestine. The Foot-Shaoyang belongs to the Gallbladder; the Hand-Shaoyang belongs to the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). The Foot-Shaoyin belongs to the Kidney; the Hand-Shaoyin belongs to the Heart. The Foot-Taiyin belongs to the Spleen; the Hand-Taiyin belongs to the Lung (Metal element).