雙語科技百科(醫學) 第61期:經絡
The Meridians and Collaterals
The meridian-collateral theory is concerned with the physiological functions and pathological changes of the meridian-collateral system, and their relationships with zang-fu organs. It is an important component of the theoretical system of TCM. Andit is considered as a theoretical basis of all clinical subjects of TCM, especially that of acupuncture and moxibustion, tuina, and qigong. Be-sides, it guides the clinical practice of other branches of TCM. The meridians and collaterals are pathways along which qi and blood circulate through the whole bodily areas to which the regular meridians cannot get. The collaterals are the branches of the meridians. They are divided into three groups, namely the diver-gent collaterals, superficial collaterals and tertiary collaterals. The divergent collaterals are the larger and main collaterals. The divergent collaterals originate from the twelve regular meridians as well as Du and Ren meridians respectively. Together with a large splenic collateral, they are generally called "the fifteen divergent collaterals"r chief task is to strengthen the links between every pair of meridians exteriorly-interiorly related on the body surface. The superficial collaterals are ones that run through the surface layer of the human body, and often emerge on the surface. And the tertiary collaterals refer to the smallest and the thinnest ones of the whole body.
經絡理論是有關經絡系統的生理功能和病理變化以及和臟腑之問關係的理論。它是中醫理論系統的重要組成部分，被認爲是所有中醫臨牀學科特別是鍼灸、推拿和氣功的理論基礎。另外，它還指導其他分支學科的臨牀實踐。經絡是氣血循行全身的通道。經是經絡系統的主幹，縱行於人體，而絡是經的分支，呈網狀分佈於全身。因此，經絡溝通人體臟腑肢節，上下內外，使人體的臟腑組織成爲一個有機整體。經絡系統由經和絡互補而成。這個系統在內聯絡臟腑組織，在外溝通筋骨肌膚。經可以分爲三類：正經、奇經和經別。有十二正經即手足三陰三陽經。它們被總稱爲“十二正經”，是氣血循行的主要通道，有同定的起止點，按照一定的路徑循行並按一定順序交接。它們與相對應的臟腑直接相連。奇經八脈由督、任、衝、帶、陰躋、陽躋、陰維和陽維脈組成。它們與十二正經相互聯繫，並行使控制、聯繫和調節十二正經的功能。另外，它們不與臟腑直接相關。十二經別是十二正經的延續。它們起於四肢，深入臟腑，淺出於項部。它們的作用是加強十二正經表裏兩經的聯繫，並補充十二正經所不能到達的臟腑和身體區域。絡是經的分支，可分爲三類：別絡、浮絡和孫絡。起源於十二正經和任督二脈的別絡和脾之大絡統稱爲”十五別絡”。它們的作用是加強表裏兩經在體表上的聯繫。浮絡循行於人體的表層並常出於體表。孫絡是整個人體中最細小的絡脈。
