One of eight meeting points: meeting point of marrow.

bubble_chart Etymology

"Xuan" (懸), hanging; "zhong" (鐘, interchangeable with 踵), refers to heel. Shiming-Shi Xingti: "The back of foot is called heel (跟)...also called "zhong" (踵). "Zhong" (鐘) means to gather, as it is where the body gathers." The point is located above heel, which hangs below, hence the name. The point is near lower one-fourth junction of fibula. Since upper three-fourths of fibula is covered by peroneus longus muscle, the bone appears to be severed here, hence the alternate name "Juegu" (絕骨, severed bone).

bubble_chart Location

Xuanzhong (GB39) acupoint
(adapted from "Meridians and Acupoints")

On the lateral side of lower leg, three cun above the tip of external malleolus, in the depression at the anterior border of fibula. Alternatively, it can be located in the depression between the posterior border of fibula and peroneus longus and brevis muscles.

• Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing: "Three cun above external malleolus of foot, in the pulsating vessel, the confluence of the three yang meridians of foot. Press until yangming pulse ceases, then locate the point";
• Zhenjiu Dacheng: "Found by palpating the pointed bone";
• Xunjing Kaoxue Bian: "Carefully feel for the tip of Juegu. Three fen anterior and slightly higher is Yangfu (GB38). Between the tip of Juegu and the gap in tendons and bones is Xuanzhong (GB39), opposite Sanyinjiao (SP6)".

bubble_chart Anatomy

• Muscles: bifurcation of peroneus brevis and extensor digitorum longus.
• Nerve: superficial peroneal nerve.
• Vessels: branches of anterior tibial artery and vein.

bubble_chart Manipulation

Perpendicular insertion 0.5~1 cun. Moxibustion with moxa cone 3 to 5 times, moxibustion with moxa stick for 10 to 15 minutes.

Purge gallbladder fire, clear marrow heat, soothes sinews and meridians.

• Classical: abdominal fullness, heat in stomach, lack of appetite, febrile diseases without sweating, five types of strangury, pharyngitis, hip joint pain, soreness and stiffness in joints, wind fatigue with heaviness of body , hemiplegia due to stroke, stiff neck, beriberi.
• Modern: stiff neck, migraine, lymph node tuberculosis, foot inversion.

bubble_chart Combinations

• Difficulty walking with weak feet: Tiaokou (ST38), Jue Gu, Chongyang (ST42).
• Weakness and lack of strength in feet: Zusanli (ST36), Jue Gu, Shenmai (BL62), Gongsun (SP4).
• Beriberi: Jue Gu, Sanli, Yinjiao (CV7).
• Abdominal and epigastric distension: Jue Gu, Neiting (ST44).
• Migraine: Fengchi (GB20), Xuanzhong (GB39), Xiaxi (GB43).
• Hemiplegia due to stroke: Shenshu (BL23), Huantiao (GB30), Fengshi (GB31), Weizhong (BL40), Xuanzhong (GB39), Zusanli (ST36).
• Stiff neck: Tianzhu (BL10), Houxi (SI3), Xuanzhong (GB39).