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TE-21 Ermen (耳門) — Ear Gate
Depth
01.5–2.5 cun3.0
Perpendicular insertion
Precautions
Take care with the superficial temporal artery and vein. Ensure that the patient does not abruptly close the jaw during needling.
Location (classical)
In the middle of the depression anterior to the supratragic notch and slightly superior to the condyloid process of the mandible. Located with the mouth open.
How to find it (practical)
Seated or in lateral decubitus, with the mouth slightly open, locate the point in the depression anterior to the notch above the tragus, 0.5 cun cranial to the line of Lu Xi (TE-19).
Anatomy
Temporomandibular joint capsule. Innervated by the auriculotemporal nerve. The superficial temporal artery and vein are directly adjacent/anterior.
Needling
Insert the needle perpendicularly and slightly downward toward Tinggong (SI-19) and Tinghui (GB-2), 1.5 to 2.5 cun. Or 0.5 cun perpendicularly or subcutaneously in a caudal direction. Needled with the mouth open.
Etymology
Er (耳), ear; Men (門), gate. The point lies in front of the ear and functions as a gate to it.
CLASSICAL SOURCEJia Yi Jing
Clinical Relations
Adjacent Points on the Meridian