Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "Intersecting point of hand shaoyang and yang link vessel". Suwen‧Qifu Lun Wang Bing's note: "Intersecting point of hand and foot shaoyang and yang link vessel."

bubble_chart Etymology

"Tian" (天), upper part or heaven; "liao" (髎), bone hollow. The acupoint is located in the depression above scapular spine on back, hence its name.

bubble_chart Location

Tianliao (TE15) acupoint
(quoted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "In shoulder, within supraclavicular fossa, in the depression between bones",
• Zhenjiu Juying: "Above supraclavicular fossa, on the protruding muscle";
• Xunjing Kaoxue Bian: "Approximately one cun away from Dazhu (BL11) and Fufen (BL41)";
• Leijing Tuyi: "Directly one cun posterior to Jianjing (GB21)".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: trapezius, supraspinatus.
• Nerve: overlapping distribution of lateral supraclavicular nerve and posterior branch of eighth cervical nerve, accessory nerve; deep layer, muscular branch of suprascapular nerve.
• Vessel: descending branch of transverse cervical artery; deep layer, muscular branch of suprascapular artery.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Insert perpendicularly or obliquely 0.5 to 0.8 cun in depth. Avoid inserting too deeply. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 7 rounds, moxibustion with moxa stick for 5 to 15 minutes.

bubble_chart Efficacy

• Classical: fever without sweating, chest fullness and distress, heaviness and pain in shoulder with inability to lift, pain in supraclavicular fossa, stiffness in neck, and neck swelling.
• Modern: periarthritis of shoulder.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Heaviness and pain in shoulder with inability to lift: Tianliao (TE15), Quchi (LI11).