黄帝问曰∶形有缓急，气有盛衰，骨有大小，肉有坚脆，皮有浓薄，其以立寿夭奈何？
伯高对曰∶形与气相任则寿，不相任则夭。皮与肉相裹则寿，不相裹则夭。血气经络胜形则
寿，不胜形则夭。曰∶何谓形缓急？曰∶形充而皮肤缓则寿，形充而皮肤急则夭。形充
而脉坚大者顺也，形充而脉小以弱者气衰也，衰则危矣。形充而颧不起者肾小也，小则夭矣
。形充而大，皮肉 坚而有分者肉坚，坚则寿矣。形充而大，皮肉无分理不坚者肉脆，脆
则夭矣。此天之生命，所以立形定气而视寿夭者也。必明于此，以立形定气，而后可以临病
人，决死生也。曰∶形气之相胜，以立寿夭奈何？曰∶平人而气胜形者寿，病而形肉脱气胜
形者死，形胜气者危也。凡五脏者中之府，中盛脏满，气胜伤恐者，声如从室中言，是中
气之湿也。言而微，终日乃复言者，此夺气也。衣被不敛，言语善恶不避亲疏者，此神明
之乱也。仓禀不藏者，是门户不要也。水泉不止者，是膀胱不藏也。得守者生，失守者死。夫
五脏者，身之强也。头者精明之府，头倾视深，神将夺矣。背者胸中之府，背曲肩随，
府将坏矣。腰者肾之府，转摇不能，肾将惫矣。膝者筋之府，屈伸不能，行则偻俯，筋
将惫矣。骨者髓之府，不能久立，行则掉栗，骨将惫矣。得强则生，失强则死。
岐伯曰∶反四时者，有余者为精，不足为消。应太过，不足为精；应不足，有余为消。
阴阳不相应，病名曰关格。人之骨强筋劲，肉缓皮肤浓者，耐痛。其于针石之痛，
大热亦然。加以黑色而善（一本作美）骨者，耐火 。坚肉薄皮者，不耐针石之痛，于火
亦然。同时而伤其身，多热者易已，多寒者难已。胃浓色黑，大骨肉肥者，皆胜毒；其瘦而
薄者，皆不胜毒也。
黄帝问道：人的形体有松缓与紧绷的区别，正气有旺盛与衰弱的不同，骨骼有大小之分，肌肉有坚实与脆弱的差异，皮肤有厚薄之别，根据这些特征如何判断寿命的长短呢？
伯高回答说：形体与正气相称（协调平衡）则长寿，不相称则短命。皮肤与肌肉紧密包裹结合则长寿，不紧密结合则短命。血气经络的功能强盛超过形体的消耗则长寿，若不能胜过形体的消耗则短命。
伯高说：形体充实而皮肤松弛柔缓的长寿，形体充实而皮肤紧绷拘急的短命。形体充实而脉象坚实粗大的为顺证，形体充实而脉象细小虚弱的表示正气衰弱，正气衰弱就有危险。形体充实但颧骨不突出的，说明肾脏较小，肾小则短命。形体高大，皮肤和肌肉坚实且有纹理分界的，属于肌肉坚实，坚实则长寿。形体高大，但皮肤和肌肉没有纹理且质地不坚实的，属于肌肉脆弱，脆弱则短命。这些都是先天赋予的生命规律，通过观察形体来确定正气的状态，从而判断寿命的长短。必须通晓这些道理，确立对形体和正气的认识，然后才能面对病人，决断生死。
伯高说：健康人如果正气强盛于形体，则长寿；患病的人如果形体肌肉消瘦脱失，而正气反而显得强盛（实为邪气亢盛或真气外越），则死亡；如果形体强盛而正气虚弱（形胜气），则病情危重。
大凡五脏是藏精气于内的脏腑。如果体内脏气壅盛、胀满，且伴有气机逆乱导致惊恐症状的，说话声音沉闷像是在屋子里说话一样，这是中焦之气湿滞的表现。说话声音低微，整天反复重复说同样的话，这是夺气（元气严重耗损）的表现。穿衣盖被不知整理，言语不分好坏，不顾及亲属疏远关系的，这是神明（心神）混乱的表现。仓廪（脾胃）不能固藏精微物质的，是因为门户（括约肌等功能）约束无力。小便淋漓不止的，是膀胱不能固藏尿液的表现。能够守住正气和脏腑功能的就能生存，失去守御能力的就会死亡。
五脏是人体强健的基础。头部是精明之府，如果头低垂、眼窝深陷，说明神气即将被剥夺。背部是胸中（心肺）之府，如果背部弯曲、肩膀下垂，说明胸中之府即将败坏。腰部是肾脏之府，如果腰部转动摇晃困难，说明肾脏即将衰竭。膝盖是筋之府，如果屈伸不利，行走时弯腰驼背，说明筋将衰竭。骨头是髓之府，如果不能久站，行走时身体战栗抖动，说明骨将衰竭。能够保持强健就能生存，失去强健就会死亡。
岐伯说：违背四时阴阳变化规律的，有余的表现为精气积聚（实证），不足的表现为消耗（虚证）。应当出现太过的时候却不足，是为精气亏虚；应当出现不足的时候却有余，是为邪气消长异常。阴阳之气互不相应，这种病称为关格（阴阳离决之重症）。
人的骨骼强壮、筋脉劲健、肌肉松弛、皮肤厚实的，能耐受疼痛。对于针石治疗的疼痛，以及火热之邪的伤害，也能耐受。加上肤色黑且骨骼美观坚固的，还能耐受火疗（艾灸等）的热痛。肌肉坚实而皮肤薄的，不耐受针石的疼痛，对火疗的热痛也不耐受。
同时受到外伤，体内热盛的容易痊愈，体内寒盛的难以痊愈。胃气浓厚、面色黑、骨骼大、肌肉肥壮的人，都能耐受药毒；那些身体瘦弱、皮肉单薄的人，都不能耐受药毒。
Huangdi asked: The physical form varies in being loose or tense, the vital qi (Zheng Qi) in being abundant or deficient, the bones in size, the muscles in firmness or fragility, and the skin in thickness. How can longevity or premature death be determined based on these features?
Bo Gao replied: Longevity is indicated when the physical form and vital qi are in harmony; premature death occurs when they are disharmonious. Longevity is indicated when the skin and muscles are tightly enveloped together; premature death occurs when they are not closely bound. Longevity is indicated when the blood, qi, and meridians are strong enough to overcome the demands of the physical form; premature death occurs when they cannot.
Huangdi asked: What is meant by the looseness and tension of the physical form?
Bo Gao said: A person with a substantial body but loose and relaxed skin will live long; one with a substantial body but tight and tense skin will die young. If the body is substantial and the pulse is firm and large, it is a favorable sign. If the body is substantial but the pulse is small and weak, it indicates deficient qi, which is dangerous. If the body is substantial but the cheekbones do not protrude, it indicates a small kidney, leading to early death. If the body is tall, and the skin and muscles are firm with clear separations, the muscles are firm, indicating longevity. If the body is tall, but the skin and muscles lack texture and are not firm, the muscles are fragile, indicating early death. These are the natural laws of life, used to establish the physical form and determine the state of qi to assess longevity. One must understand this clearly to evaluate the form and qi before treating patients and determining life and death.
Huangdi asked: How does the mutual overcoming between form and qi determine longevity?
Bo Gao said: In a healthy person, if qi exceeds the form, it indicates longevity. In a sick person, if the flesh and muscles are wasted away yet qi appears excessive (often implying pathogenic excess or floating true qi), it indicates death. If the form exceeds the qi, the condition is critical.
Generally, the five zang organs are the internal repositories. If there is internal fullness and organ distension, accompanied by qi rebellion causing fear, and the voice sounds muffled as if coming from within a room, this indicates dampness in the middle jiao (Middle Burner). If speech is faint and repeated throughout the day, this indicates depletion of qi (Duo Qi). If a person fails to arrange their clothing properly, speaks without discerning good from bad, and ignores distinctions between relatives and strangers, this indicates chaos of the spirit (Shen). If the granaries (Spleen and Stomach) fail to store essence, it is because the gates (sphincters/functions) lack control. If urine flows incessantly, it is because the Bladder fails to store. Retention leads to life; loss leads to death.
The five zang organs are the strength of the body. The head is the residence of clarity and spirit; if the head droops and the eyes are sunken, the spirit is about to be depleted. The back is the residence of the chest (Heart and Lungs); if the back is curved and shoulders collapse, the residence is about to fail. The waist is the residence of the Kidney; if turning and shaking the waist is difficult, the Kidney is about to become exhausted. The knees are the residence of the sinews; if flexion and extension are impossible, and walking requires stooping, the sinews are about to exhaust. The bones are the residence of the marrow; if one cannot stand for long and walks with trembling legs, the bones are about to exhaust. Strength leads to life; loss of strength leads to death.
Qibo said: Those who go against the changes of the four seasons show accumulation of essence (excess) where there should be abundance, and consumption (deficiency) where there should be insufficiency. When excess is expected but deficiency is present, it is essence depletion; when insufficiency is expected but excess is present, it is pathological fluctuation. When Yin and Yang do not correspond, the disease is named Guan Ge (Guan-Ge syndrome, characterized by severe obstruction of yin and yang).
Those with strong bones, tough sinews, relaxed muscles, and thick skin can tolerate pain. They can also tolerate the pain of acupuncture and moxibustion, as well as intense heat. Those with dark complexion and beautiful, solid bones can further tolerate the heat of fire therapy (Moxibustion). Those with firm muscles but thin skin cannot tolerate the pain of needles and stones, nor the heat of fire.
When injured simultaneously, those with more heat in the body recover easily; those with more cold recover with difficulty. Those with strong stomach qi, dark complexion, large bones, and plump flesh can all tolerate toxic drugs; those who are thin and have scant flesh cannot tolerate toxic drugs.