I Nomenclature and Names
The twelve regular meridians symmetrically distribute bilateral sides of the body and run through the medial or lateral aspects of the upper or lower extremities, respectively.
Each connects with a zang-viscera or fu-viscera, thus, the name of each meridian of the twelve regular meridians includes three parts, hand or foot,yin or yang, and zang-viscera or fu-viscera. The meridians of the hand run along the upper limbs, while the feet meridians the lower limbs; yin meridians run along the medial aspect of four extremities and pertain to the zang-viscera, while the yang meridians, traveling along the lateral aspect of four limbs, pertain to fu-viscera (see table 2).
Table 2
Classification of Nomenclature of the Twelve Regular Meridians

At the lower leg and dorsal foot,the Liver Meridian lies in the anterior border but the Spleen Meridian in the midline.After crossing at the spot 8cun above the medial malleolus,the Spleen Meridian is in the anterior border but the Liver Meridian,in the middle.
II.The Courses,Connections,Distributions,Interior-Exterior Relationships and Cyclical Flow Order of Meridians
1. Rules of Courses and Connections
There exists a specific rule for the connections of the twelve regular meridians.Chapter 38 in Spirit Pivot states: "The three yin meridians of the hand travel from the viscera to the hand; the three yang meridians of the hand run from the hand to the head;the three yang meridians of the foot travel from the head to the foot; and the three yin meridians of the foot go from the foot to the abdomen. " For example, the three yin meridians of the hand travel from the chest to the end of the fingers, then connect with the three yang meridians of the hand; the three yang meridians of the hand run from the end of the fingers to the head and face, then communicate with three yang meridians of the foot; the three yang meridians of the foot go from the face and head down to the end of the toes, then connect with three yin meridians of the foot; the three yin meridians of the foot start from the toes and go up to the abdomen and chest to connect with three yin meridians of the hand. ( see the sketch below ), thus, "forming a circulative pathway of inter-connection of yin and yang meridians which travel in the body endlessly like a cycle," as stated in Chapter 18 of the Spirit Pivot.
Table 3 The Sketch Map of the Connecting Rule of the Hand-Foot

The three yang meridians of the hand terminate at the head and the three yang meridians of foot begin from the head. They connect with each other at the face and head, this explains that "the head is the confluence of yang meridians. "
2. Rules of Distribution
The distributions of the twelve regular meridians on the body surface are fixed. For example, in the limbs the yin meridians are over the medial aspect, and yang meridians, lateral aspect. Each limb is supplied by the three yin and yang meridians distribution. On the whole, the anterior border is supplied by the Taiyin and Yangming Meridians; the posterior border, by Shaoyin and Taiyang Meridians; the midline by Jueyin and Shaoyang Meridians. On the face and head, the face and forehead are distributed by Yangming Meridians; the check, vertex and hindhead are passed by Taiyang Meridians;and the Shaoyang Meridians travel along the lateral aspect of the head. On the body trunk, the three yang meridians of the hand run through the scapular regions. Among the three yang meridians of the foot, the Yangming Meridian runs anteriorly (from chest to abdomen); the Taiyang Meridian, posteriorly (along the back); and the Shaoyang Meridian, laterally. The three yin meridians of the hand all emerge from the area below the axilla, whereas three yin meridians of the foot run through the abdominal regions.The sequence of meridians in passing through the abdominal region from the interior is firstly the Foot Shaoyang, secondly the Foot Yangming, thirdly the Foot Taiyin, and fourthly the Foot Jueyin Meridians.
3. Interior-Exterior Relationships
There are sixpairs of meridians of "exterior-interior correspondence" which are comprised of the three yin and three yang meridians of the hand and foot and communicate through the divergent meridians and collaterals. Chapter 24 in Plain Questions states:"The Meridians of Foot Taiyang and Shaoyin, the Meridians of Foot Shaoyang and Jueyin, and the Meridians of Yangming and Taiyin are exteriorly-interiorly related respectively. " Indicated here is that the yin and yang of foot, the Meridians of Hand Taiyang and Shaiyin, the Meridians of Hand Shaoyang and Jueyin and the Meridians Yangming and Taiyin are all exteriorly-interiorly related, and refers to the yin and yang of the hand.
The two interior-exterior meridians connect at the end of the four extremities which respectively run along the medialateral aspects of the four limbs (the Liver Meridian of the Foot-Jueyin crosses with the Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin at spot eight cun above the medial malleolus, after which those two meridians exchange their positions, the Taiyin on the anterior border and the Foot Jueyin in the midline). Separately these meridians which are communicating with the interior-exterior viscera, manifest in the Foot Taiyang Meridian which pertains to the urinary bladder and communicates with the kidney; and the Foot Shaoyin Meridian which pertains to the kidney and communicates with the urinary bladder.
The interior-exterior relationships of the twelve regular meridians not only strengthen communication by the connection of the two interior-exterior meridians, but also connect with and pertain to the same viscera. This enables the zang-viscus and fu-viscus with the interior-exterior relationship to be inter-coordinating in physiological function, and inter-influencing in pathology. For example, the spleen dominates transportation and transformation and is in charge of sending up the clear qi; the stomach dominates the reception and sending of the turbid qi downward; the heart-fire transmits into the small intestine, etc. In treatment, the points belonging to the two interior-exterior meridians can be mutually selected. For example, the points from the Lung Meridian can be selected to treat diseases of the large intestine viscera or also illnesses of the meridian.
4. The Order of Cyclical Flow
The twelve regular meridians are distributed over the interior and exterior body, and the qi and blood circulate endlessly in the meridians. Beginning in the Lung Meridian of the Hand Taiyin, and transporting to the laver Meridian of the Foot Jueyin in proper order, this process then returns once more to the Lung Meridian. The inter-connection of the beginning and ending-spot is similar to a cycle, the order of this flow being as follows: (see table 4)
Table 4 The Cyclical Flow of Qi in the Twelve Regular Meridians

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