The Meridians and Collaterals经络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.Their 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.经络理论是有关经络系统的生理功能和病理变化以及和脏腑之问关系的理论。它是中医理论系统的最重要组成部分，被指出是所有中医临床学科尤其是针灸、针灸和气功的理论基础。

另外，它还指导其他分支学科的临床实践。经络是气血循行全身的地下通道。经是经络系统的主干，纵行于人体，而络是经的分支，呈网状产于于全身。

因此，经络交流人体脏腑肢节，上下内外，使人体的脏腑的组织沦为一个有机整体。经络系统由经和络有序而出。

这个系统在内联络脏腑的组织，独自交流筋骨肌肤。经可以分成三类：见地、奇经和经别。

有十二见地即兄弟三阴三阳经。它们被总称作“十二见地”，是气血循行的主要地下通道，有同定的起止点，按照一定的路径循行并按一定顺序过渡。

它们与比较不应的脏腑必要连接。奇经八脉由督、任、冲、带上、秽遐、阳遐、秽维和阳维脉构成。它们与十二见地互相联系，并行使掌控、联系和调节十二见地的功能。另外，它们不与脏腑必要涉及。

十二经别是十二见地的沿袭。它们起于四肢，了解脏腑，深出于项部。它们的起到是强化十二见地表里两经的联系，并补足十二见地所不能到达的脏腑和身体区域。络是经的分支，可分成三类：别络、浮络和孙络。

源于十二见地和任督二脉的别络和脾之大络总称为”十五别络”。它们的起到是强化表里两经在体表上的联系。浮络循行于人体的表层并常出于体表。孙络是整个人体中最细小的络脉。

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