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LI-18 Futu (扶突) — Support the Prominence
Depth
00.3–0.5 cun3.0
Oblique insertion
Precautions
Deep insertion carries a risk of puncturing the jugular vein or the carotid artery. Reposition the head to neutral before insertion. Caution: carotid artery and jugular vein.
Location (classical)
On the lateral aspect of the neck, at the level of the tip of the laryngeal prominence, between the sternal and clavicular heads of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM).
How to find it (practical)
Seated with the neck slightly tilted laterally and extended, first locate Lian Quan (CV-23), in the depression above the hyoid bone. Locate the point 3 cun lateral to Lian Quan (CV-23).
Anatomy
Sternocleidomastoid muscle, platysma. Innervated by the great auricular nerve, cervical plexus, and spinal accessory nerve.
Needling
Vertical insertion 0.3–0.5 cun or oblique up to 0.8 cun.
Etymology
Fu (扶), equivalent to 3 cun; Tu (突), prominence. Tu refers to the prominence of the larynx. The point lies lateral to the laryngeal prominence (Adam's apple).
CLASSICAL SOURCELing Shu
Clinical Relations
Adjacent Points on the Meridian